Abstract

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This study assessed and compared the antimicrobial activity of honey to that of some commonly used antibiotics in Ebonyi State, against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis isolated from wounds. Fifty two (52) wound samples, were collected from patients at General Hospital Uburu, Ebonyi State. Wound samples were collected using sterile swab sticks. The bacteria species were isolated and identified by standard microbiological methods. Antibiotics Susceptibility test was performed by Kirby-Bauer-CLSI modified Disc Agar Diffusion method, while agar well diffusion technique was used to assess the in vitro activity of the honey against the test bacteria. Results, showed that the three (3) bacteria species were prevalent in the wound samples as follows; Pseudomonas aeruginosa 16(30.8%), Staphylococcus aureus 11(21.2%) and Proteus mirabilis 2(3.9%). Result of the antibiotics susceptibility tests, showed that all (100%) of the bacteria species were susceptibility to imipenem. Some Staphylococcus aureus isolates were susceptible to the other antibiotics while being totally (100%) resistant to ceftriaxone. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed degrees of susceptibility to the other antibiotics. Proteus mirabilis was found to show 50% susceptibility to meropenem and ofloxacine, while being totally (100%) resistant to the other antibiotics. On the other hand, the honey sample inhibited the growth of all the test organisms producing inhibitory zone diameters in the range of > 10mm to 29mm. This suggests that the honey sample used was active against the test bacteria, and can be used as an alternative way of treating wounds infected, with the tested organisms in the locality

Keywords: Antibiotics, Honey, Infection, Honey, Patients, Wound.