Exposure to manuka honey modules antibiotic susceptibility on wound isolates

doi:10.4066/2591-8036-C1-003

Exposure to manuka honey modules antibiotic susceptibility on wound isolates

Joint Event on 7^th European Clinical Microbiology Congress & 4^th International Conference on Ophthalmology and Eye Disorder
November 01-02, 2018 | London, UK

Jawahir Mokhtar, Andrew J McBain, Ruth G Ledder and Gavin Humphreys

The University of Manchester, UK

Posters & Accepted Abstracts : Clinical Microbiology and Eye

DOI: 10.4066/2591-8036-C1-003

Abstract:

Background: The clinical application of Manuka honey has recently gained momentum, particularly in treatment of chronic wound infections. Changes in antibiotic susceptibility have been observed previously, following the exposure of bacteria to subtherapeutic concentrations of honey, however such findings have been limited to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this study is to assess the modulation of antibiotic sensitivity in a broader panel of chronic wound isolates. Methods: Parent strains (P0) of Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, Staphylococcus. epidermidis, S. pyogenes, P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis were passaged ten times in the presence of sub-lethal concentrations of clinical grade Manuka honey to generate strain P10. In order to assess any permanent or transient changes in bacterial susceptibility, the bacteria were grown in honey-free media for a further 10 passages (X10). Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using a combination of microdilution and disc diffusion methodologies. Results: Variable changes in bacterial susceptibilities were noted following subtherapeutic exposure to honey. P10 strains of S. epidermidis and S. pyogenes exhibited a ≥4-fold decrease in their sensitivities to erythromycin and tetracycline in comparison to baseline values. Similarly, E. coli displayed a 4-fold reduction in susceptibilities to gentamicin following passaging with honey. In contrast, K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis showed notable increases in susceptibility towards both ciprofloxacin and gentamicin after 10 passages in the presence of honey. All changes in MIC, MBC and MBEC were shown to be transient in nature with the exception of K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis (X10), which exhibited an MIC to ciprofloxacin >4 fold greater than the parent strains. Conclusion: Wound isolates exposed to clinical grade Manuka honey exhibited transient changes in antibiotic profiles. The underlying mechanism and clinical implications of such changes are unclear and warrant further investigation.

Biography:

Jawahir Mokhtar is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Manchester, UK.

E-mail: jawahir.mokhtar@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk

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