Antibacterial activity of local honey against Carbapenem Resistant enterobacteriaceae isolated from infected wounds

Abstract

The increasing incidence of drug resistant organisms such as Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has resulted in difficulties in the management of infected wound. Integration of traditional medicine such as honey and modern antibiotics could be useful in the treatment of such infections. This research work is therefore aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity of local honey against CRE isolated from infected wounds. Four hundred wound swabs (surgical, burn, diabetic foot ulcer, osteomylitis, abscess and laceration wound swab) obtained from Murtala Muhammad Specialist hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase hospital Kano were screen for the presence of CRE. The isolates were identified and confirmed using culture, biochemical and meropenem sensitivity test according to standard microbiological techniques. The antibacterial activity and MIC of the honey was evaluated using agar well diffusion and tube dilution method respectively. A total of 253 organisms of the family Enterobacteriaceae from 342 samples that yielded growth were identified. The isolates were Escherichia coli 54 (21.3%), Klebsiella species 92 (36.4%), Proteus species 36 (14.2%), Pseudomonas species 54 (21.3%) and Enterobacter species 17 (6.7%). The study revealed the incidence of CRE as 8.46%. The result of antibacterial activity of honey revealed activity at all concentration (12.5% to 100%) with the diameter of inhibition ranging from 10mm to 38 mm. The result also revealed that 81.8% isolated CRE were sensitive to the local honey with varied bacteriostatic activity. The MIC values of the honey were found in the range of 12.5- 50 %( V/V).The antibacterial activity of honey even at lower strength justify their efficacy in the treatment of wound infection. Honey can therefore serve as potential antimicrobial substance for control of wound infection caused by CRE.

Key words: Activity, Honey, Wound, CRE, Agar-well diffusion.