Honey on the money when it comes to infection control

Manuka honey could be a powerful new weapon in the battle against hospital-acquired infections, scientists have revealed.

Researchers at Southampton University in the UK have found that cleaning medical equipment with solutions derived from the Australian and New Zealand honey reduced the ability of potentially deadly bacteria to accumulate on surfaces by more than 75%.

The discovery could greatly enhance the safety of people at especial risk of bacterial infections, such as the one-in-four hospital patients who have to use a catheter, thousands of whom contract urinary tract infections, which account for 2100 deaths a year, the researchers say.

The use of honey as a medication goes back centuries and recent research has suggested that it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The new study, however, is the first of its kind specifically to investigate the potential of a monofloral honey, this one made from the nectar of the manuka tree.

The researchers diluted the honey with distilled water to create a range of concentrations from 3.3% to 16.7% and applied the solutions to bacterial cultures.

The results showed that manuka honey strongly inhibited the "stickiness" of bacteria and could create a biofilm that clings to medical equipment.

Bashir Lwaleed, associate professor of health sciences at the University of Southampton, said: "Catheter infection accounts for a large proportion of hospital-acquired infections.

"It is an area of clinical practice that needs attention.

"We believe that patients might benefit from honey's anti-inflammatory properties, and that antibacterial resistance is unlikely to be a factor when honey is used."