8^th Clinical Microbiology Conference

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of honey dressing on diabetic septic foot not responding to conventional dressing. 

Background: Honey is one of the most appreciated and valued natural products introduced to humankind since ancient times. The best characterized role of honey in wound healing is in the prevention and limitation of bacterial infection, thereby reducing the bioburden of the wound.

Method: Swabs were taken from wound surfaces of diabetic septic foot for identification, viable count determination of infecting organisms. The isolated organisms were subjected to sensitivity test for honey and some of the commonly used antibiotics. The wounds of diabetic patients were generously soaked with honey and the patients were given supportive treatment (Omdurman Teaching Hospital).

Result: The clinical isolate was sensitive to all tested honey samples. Daily application of honey on septic wounds of hospitalized patients, gave favorable results. These involved cleanliness of wounds, growth of healthy granulation tissue and prompt graft taking.

Conclusion: Use of honey against septic wound in hospitalized patient admitted for amputation above knee resulted in complete healing within one week. Honey seems to accelerate wound healing by early promotion of healthy granulation tissue. This attributed to its effectiveness in healing chronic infected wounds not responding to conventional antibiotics.