Efficacy of newly formulated ointment containing 20% active antimicrobial honey in treatment of burn wound infections

Honey has been familiar to possess antimicrobial potential to clear infection against burn wound infecting bacteria since ancient times. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the newly formulated honey ointment during the treatment of burn wound infections. The Experimental [Non comparative] study was conducted at outpatient department of Dermatology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from November 2009 to October 2010. The antimicrobial activity of different Pakistani floral sources [Acacia nilotica species indica, Zizyphus, Helianthus annuus and Carissa opaca] honey samples were investigated by disc diffusion method against freshly isolated burn wounds infecting bacteria. Ointment containing 20% active antimicrobial honey was formulated as a sovereign remedy. A total number of twenty patients with second degree of burn wounds on different parts of the body were studied. A thin layer of honey ointment on gauze was applied to the wounds two to three times a day up to the complete healing. During microbiological study, Pakistani honey samples were discovered to exhibit a very promising antimicrobial activity against all the wound infecting microorganisms tested. Clinical trials demonstrated that the topical application of honey ointment have significant control of infections arising form pathogenic bacteria and up to 100% healing results were observed in all burn wound cases within mean healing time for the duration of 8.15 [3-18] days time period. Newly formulated ointment containing 20% active antimicrobial honey is more effective and low-cost alternative preparation for the treatment of burn wound infections

'Honey ointment': a natural remedy of skin wound infections

Background: Honey is a gift of nature, principally identified and valued to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity and has been used as a natural remedy of wounds since ancient times. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of honey against micro-organisms, to formulate a honey ointment and to evaluate the efficacy of such ointment by conducting clinical trials on skin wound infection. Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi and Out-patient Department of Dermatology, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from November 2009 to October 2010. The antimicrobial activity of Pakistani floral sources [Trachysperm copticum, Acacia nilotica species indica, Zizyphus] honey samples was investigated by disc diffusion method against freshly isolated wound infecting bacteria [Staphylococci aureus, Staphylococci epidermidis, Streptococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Candida albicans], and Staphylococci aureus ATCC 6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9022, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albican ATCC 15146. An ointment containing 20% active antimicrobial honey was formulated. The efficacy of such ointment was evaluated by passing thought clinical trials. A total number of 27 patients [23 skin wound infection, and 4 diabetic foot ulcer] were involved in the study. Thin layer of newly formulated honey ointment on gauze were applied two to three times per day till complete healing. Results: In microbiological assay the honey samples were found to exhibit a very promising antimicrobial activity against all the micro-organisms tested. In clinical trial very significant results [99.15%] healing was observed in skin wound infections cases with mean healing time of 5.86 [2–20] days, and 95% diabetic foot ulcers healed with the mean healing time of 20 [8–40] days. Conclusion: Newly formulated ointment containing 20% active antimicrobial honey is very effective and alternative low-cost product for the treatment of wound infections. Keyword: antimicrobial activity, honey ointment, wound infection, diabetic foot ulcer

Comparison of in vitro antibacterial activity of levofloxacin and gatifloxacin

Clinical isolates including Staphylococcus. aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas. aeruginosa and Salmonella. typhi were obtained from different pathological laboratories and medical center were included in the study. Comparison of in vitro antibacterial activity of levofloxacin and gatifloxacin was carried out by ICLS reference Disk diffusion [Kirby-Bauer] method. An attempt has been made to measure the zone of inhibition produced by Levofloxacin and gatifloxacin against these clinical isolates. Comparison of susceptibility results indicated that both Levofloxacin and Gatifloxacin has excellent in vitro antibacterial activity but gatifloxacin had relatively broad spectrum of activity against most of clinical isolates tested its mean that Gatifloxacin is more effective than Levofloxacin. On the basis of present study it can be evaluated that levofloxacin and gatifloxacin were two very good antibacterial agent in the field of antimicrobial chemotherapy but different clinical isolates had started to develop resistance to those antibiotics, w/c is alarming because if organism started to develop resistance to these antibiotics than we will be left with no other choice of antibiotics