CONCENTRATION-DEPENDENT ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, ESCHERICHIA COLI, AND STREPTOCOCCUS PYOGENES FROM WOUND INFECTIONS

Abstract

The rise of antimicrobial resistance among wound pathogens has led to the need for affordable and effective alternative treatments. Honey has received renewed scientific interest because of its wide-ranging antimicrobial, anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound-healing effects. This study investigated the antibacterial activity of natural honey obtained from Nsukka town, Enugu state Nigeria against common wound clinical isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus pyogenes. Clinical isolates from wound samples were collected and identified using standard microbiological and biochemical methods. Serial dilution of the natural honey sample was made to concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (v/v). Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined through broth dilution and sub-culture techniques, respectively. Data was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p < 0.05. The natural Honey sample showed concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against all test isolates. At 100% concentration, the average inhibition zones were 21.3 ± 0.5 mm for S. aureus, 19.8 ± 0.4 mm for E. coli, and 22.0 ± 0.5 mm for S. pyogenes. The MIC values were 25%, 50%, and 25% for S. aureus, E. coli, and S. pyogenes, respectively; the MBC values were 50%, 75%, and 50%, respectively. Statistical analysis of the results showed that there is no significant difference in the activity of honey against the isolates at p < 0.05. Gram-positive organisms (S. pyogenes and S. aureus) were significantly more susceptible than the Gram-negative isolate (E. coli). Natural honey showed substantial antibacterial activity against key wound pathogens, with effectiveness increasing with concentration. These results suggest that honey could serve as an affordable supplementary antimicrobial agent in wound care.