It is estimated that thirty percent of the general population is colonized with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, which means that people carry the bacterium on their skin or in their nasal passages, etc. without it causing disease. About one percent of these so-called carriers have S. aureus that is resistant to methicillin antibiotics (MRSA). Infections caused by this antibiotic-resistant bacterium are on the rise, especially in hospital settings. Skin infections caused by this bacterium are so common that most states, including Illinois, do not collect data on them. Illinois only collects data on MRSA infections in infants less than 61 days old or in clusters in community settings.
What makes MRSA so dangerous is how difficult it is to treat. In some cases, MRSA infection can frequently recur or become chronic. Scientists are desperately searching for antibiotics that are effective against the bacterium, and for alternative treatments that boost antibiotics’ effects. Professor Rose Cooper from the University of Wales Institute Cardiff believes she has found just such an alternative treatment, manuka honey. Manuka honey is created by honey bees that feed on pollen from the manuka plant in New Zealand.
Honey is well known for its anti-microbial properties, and has thus been used for centuries as a remedy for all sorts of ailments. Professor Cooper sought to determine how honey works in hampering bacterial infections. Her research shows that manuka honey tends to prevent bacterial attachment to tissues, which is the first step in infection. Equally as important, her research shows that bacteria are not likely to become resistant to honey.
While these results are promising for the clinical use of honey to treat MRSA skin infections, the general public should not depend solely on honey for treating their infections. If someone suspects they have an infection, they should consult a physician immediately.
For more information on MRSA, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health website.
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