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Antibiotics
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Honey: A Sweet Solution to the Growing Problem of Antimicrobial...
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Honey: A Sweet Solution to the Growing Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance, 2nd Volume

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Antimicrobial Agents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 6522

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Niels A.J. Cremers

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
2. Triticum Exploitatie BV, 6222 NK Maastricht, The Netherlands
Interests: medical-grade honey; wound healing; microbiology; biofilms; antimicrobial resistance; candidiasis; complementary and alternative medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Frank Wagener

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dentistry, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Interests: craniofacial biology; medical-grade honey wound repair; fibrosis; inflammation; cytoprotective mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Dimitris Mossialos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, GR-41221 Larissa, Greece
Interests: development of diagnostic molecular tools; antimicrobial activity; mode of action and microbiome of honey bee products; biodeterioration of cultural heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, even higher than HIV/AIDS and malaria. Over- or misuse of antimicrobials in the healthcare, livestock, veterinary, and food industries leads to AMR. Since AMR is a cross-border threat to public health, a global approach (re-)inventing antimicrobial agents is crucial in tackling this issue. Thus far, the market has failed to respond to the quest for novel antimicrobial agents. Pharmaceutical companies demonstrate limited commercial interest because new drugs will be confined to the most severe cases, and resistance to new classes of antibiotics historically emerges within a couple of years. Without effective antibiotics, ostensibly simple wounds following injury or surgery may become infected and potentially life-threatening. Therefore, antibiotic stewardship and developing effective alternatives are crucial to controlling resistant infections.

Natural products traditionally implemented as medicines may constitute potent alternative antimicrobial agents. Medical-grade honey (MGH) has broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity via multiple mechanisms, making it very effective, even against multidrug-resistant microorganisms and biofilms. In contrast to modern antibiotics, no resistance towards honey has been reported after over five millennia of use. This is likely the result of the myriad antimicrobial mechanisms held by MGH, making it extremely difficult for pathogens to develop resistance. Interestingly, honey can also be combined with antibiotics and other agents, enhancing each other’s antimicrobial activity. MGH can be used for the treatment of various infections.

More studies that support the broad applicability and efficacy of MGH are needed. Studies investigating the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of unprocessed honey and/or MGH against (resistant) microbial infections, or those elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms, are welcome for submission to this Special Issue. Various formats are permitted (reviews, original research, case series, and animal and laboratory studies), as long as the ethical standards are followed.

We encourage submissions from different specialists within the human, animal, and environmental fields and from across the globe.

Dr. Niels A.J. Cremers
Dr. Frank Wagener
Dr. Dimitris Mossialos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4406 KiB  
Article
Treating Infected Non-Healing Venous Leg Ulcers with Medical-Grade Honey: A Prospective Case Series
by Georgios E. Papanikolaou, Georgios Gousios, Niels A. J. Cremers and Linsey J. F. Peters
Antibiotics 2024, 13(7), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13070614 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 2098
Abstract
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are hard-to-heal wounds and are prone to microbial colonization. Innovative and improved therapies are thus required to resolve local infection and enhance the wound healing process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of medical-grade honey [...] Read more.
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are hard-to-heal wounds and are prone to microbial colonization. Innovative and improved therapies are thus required to resolve local infection and enhance the wound healing process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of medical-grade honey (MGH) for the treatment of clinically infected and non-healing VLUs. This prospective case series included nine patients with an average age of 83.4 years (range: 75–91 years) with a total of eleven VLUs, previously ineffectively treated with various products. Major risk factors for the appearance of VLUs were chronic venous insufficiency, advanced age, multiple comorbidities (particularly cardiovascular diseases), and impaired mobility. All wounds presented with local signs of infection. Upon presentation, treatment was commenced with a range of MGH-based products (L-Mesitran®). Clinical signs of infection were eliminated by MGH after 2.2 weeks on average (range: 1–4 weeks), and wounds were completely healed after 7 weeks on average (range: 3–18 weeks). No further complications or recurrences were observed. MGH has a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and promotes rapid healing, thus improving patients’ quality of life. Moreover, MGH-based products are safe, easy to use, cost-effective, and can effectively treat VLUs alone or in combination with standard-of-care therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Honey: A Sweet Solution to the Growing Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance, 2nd Volume)
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18 pages, 11020 KiB  
Article
The Use of Medical Grade Honey on Infected Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers—A Prospective Case-Control Study
by Adéla Holubová, Lucie Chlupáčová, Jitka Krocová, Lada Cetlová, Linsey J. F. Peters, Niels A. J. Cremers and Andrea Pokorná
Antibiotics 2023, 12(9), 1364; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12091364 - 24 Aug 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3888
Abstract
Non-healing wounds are usually colonised and contaminated by different types of bacteria. An alternative to antibiotic treatment in patients with infected wounds with local signs of inflammation may be medical grade honey (MGH). MGH has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory features. This study [...] Read more.
Non-healing wounds are usually colonised and contaminated by different types of bacteria. An alternative to antibiotic treatment in patients with infected wounds with local signs of inflammation may be medical grade honey (MGH). MGH has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory features. This study aims to evaluate the effect of MGH therapy on infected non-healing wounds, especially for diabetic foot syndrome. Prospective, observational case series (n = 5) of patients with wounds of diabetic foot syndrome are presented. There were five males with an average age of 61.6 years. All wounds were treated with MGH, and the healing trajectory was rigorously and objectively monitored. In all cases, there was a gradual disappearance of odour, pain, and exudation. Moreover, the wound areas significantly reduced within 40 days and there was a decrease in glycated haemoglobin and glycaemia values. All these outcomes resulted in improved quality of life of the patients. Despite bacterial colonisation, antibiotic treatment was not necessary. All wounds were completely healed. MGH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in diabetic foot syndrome wounds, does not increase glycated haemoglobin or glycaemia levels, and thus constitutes an effective alternative to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of locally infected wounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Honey: A Sweet Solution to the Growing Problem of Antimicrobial Resistance, 2nd Volume)
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