The Antibacterial Properties of Honey on Bacteria Isolated from Wounds of Patients from Selected Hospitals in Akure, Ondo State

Abstract

Antibiotics have been used since the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming. Over time, the bacteria that the antibiotics were used against began to develop resistance due to the ability of the bacteria to mutate and adapt to their environment. Natural products have been used for medicinal purposes as far back as history records, and one of such products is honey. This study determined the antibacterial activity of honey against bacteria isolated from wound samples. Fifty (50) wound swabs were obtained from State Specialist Hospital and Visac Clinic and Maternity, both in Akure. They were inoculated into appropriate media used. The different bacteria isolated were identified using standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test and honey inhibition assay were carried out on the different bacterial isolates. The results showed that a total of nine (9) bacteria were isolated and identified from the wound samples. They are: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium deficile, Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram positive) while the Gram negative bacteria are Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris. The most susceptible isolate to the antibiotics used was Staphylococcus aureus, with a diameter of zone of inhibition of 24mm from the antibiotic ofloxacin (OFX). Staphylococcus aureus was also the most susceptible isolate to the honey samples (with zones of inhibition of 40mm, 32mm and 21mm for honey 4, honey 2 and honey 3 respectively) except honey 1 to which the bacteria was resistant. The least susceptible isolate for the antibiotics susceptibility test (AST) was Proteus vulgaris while Streptococcus agalactiae was the least susceptible to the honey samples. The most effective honey sample was honey 4 (raw, unfiltered honey) while the least effective was honey 1 (raw, filtered honey). Honey was found to be very effective against most of the bacteria isolated from wound swabs, therefore honey can be used effectively for wound dressing and wound healing. Thus, the use of honey as wound dressing should be applied in our hospitals here in Nigeria