Benefits of Using Honey in The Management of Postoperative Wound Infections

Introduction: The unrefined honey has anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The antibacterial effect is due to acidity, content of hydrogen peroxide, osmotic effect, antioxidant, nutritional contents, stimulation of immunity, and other unidentified compounds. Wounds treated with honey had less swelling, less redness, less infection and less pain.
Aim of this study: This study aimed to address the benefits of honey in the management of postoperative wound infections.
Methods: 40 cases with postoperative wound infections, the cases were divided into 2 groups, each containing 20 cases. Group A was treated with honey (H group) group B was treated with antiseptics without honey (Wo-H group). Patients aged between 20 and 50 years old presented with infected postoperative wounds. Patients with infected wounds not related to operations and patients who refused to participate in this study were excluded. The wound was cleaned with normal saline and then gauze was soaked with sterile honey. Wo-H group dressing was done with normal saline, betadine, glycerine magnesia. In the first 7 days, dressing was done twice daily, while after the first 7 days, dressing was done once daily.
Results: All wounds of the H group (20 cases) became clean by the end of 3 weeks (100%); in 12 cases (60%) the wound became clean by the end of first 10 days, 4 cases (20%) became clean at day 14, and 4 (20% ) cases became clean at day 21. The wound healing occurred by the end of 4 weeks without need for secondary sutures in 12 cases (60%), and 8 cases (40%) needed secondary sutures. Regarding wounds of Wo-H group (20 cases), in 12 cases only the wounds became clean by the end of 3 weeks (60%), in 2 cases (10% ) the wound became clean by the end of first 10 days, ln 3 cases (15% ) the wound became clean at day 14, and 7 cases  (35% ) the wound became clean at day 21. In 8 cases (40%), the wound became clean after 4 weeks. The wound healing occurred by the end of 4 weeks without the need for secondary sutures in 6 cases (30%), and in 14 cases (70%), the wound healing occurred after 5 weeks and needed secondary sutures.
Conclusion: Honey was highly effective in promoting healing of post-operative infected wounds. It acts as a natural dressing for infected postoperative wounds.