Abstract

IN VITRO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY ON SOME BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM WOUND

Ede F.R., Sheyin Z., Essien U.C.*, Bigwan E.I. and Okechukwu O.E.

ABSTRACT

The moist environment of chronic wounds is an ideal growth medium for bacteria thereby causing delay in healing. Honey is commonly used as a topical antibacterial agent in most cases to complement the conventional antibiotics treatment. This work was carried out to determine the invitro antibacterial activity of honey on some wound isolates. One hundred (100) swab samples were obtained from wounds of patients who consented to participate in the study. The specimens were streak inoculated onto Chocolate agar and Cysteine Lactose Electrolyte Deficiency agar (CLED). Cultures were incubated at 370C for 18 to 24hours. After incubation bacteria isolates were identified by cultural characteristic, Gram staining technique and biochemical tests. Results from the study revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalence bacteria isolates 35(41.7%), followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus (CoNS) 19(22.6%), Escherichia coli 6(7.1%), Klebsiella spp. 2(0.4%), Proteus mirabilis 3(3.6%), Proteus vulgaris 11(13.1%), Streptococcus spp 7(8.3%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1(1.2%). The Minimum inhibitory concentration of honey against the wound isolates shows Pseudomonas aeruginosa with the highest MIC (50 mg/ml). The present study has demonstrated the antibacterial activity of honey on wound isolates. However, findings from this study are expected to add to the body of knowledge regarding wound infections.

Keywords: Honey, antibacterial activity, Staphylococcus aureus.