Honey Useful in Debriding Non-Healing Wounds

Clinical Observations on the Use of Honcrivine in the Chemical Debridement of Wounds
Niger J Clin Pract, 2009 Dec;12(4):412-5

BACKGROUND: Chronic and non healing wounds, necrotic wounds and contused and devitalized wounds require debridement to rid the wounds of all these impediments that encourage bacterial growth and multiplications with consequent impairment of wound healing. Whereas there are several methods of wound debridement with their peculiar indications, merits and demerits, the ideal method of debridement is yet to be discovered.

AIM: The aim of this study is to investigate clinically the ability of honcrivine (honey plus acriflavine 0.1%) to chemically debride various wounds in routine clinical practice.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred and eighty nine consecutive patients managed by the author between June 1995 and June 2005 were included in this study. They were 125 males and 64 females and their ages ranged between 6 and 78 years. Initially swab was taken for bacterial culture from each wound before being cleaned with normal saline, then dressed daily with gauze soaked in honcrivine. Bacterial culture was repeated fortnightly. Antibiotics were administered as dictated by culture and sensitivity report.

RESULTS: Wound debridement progressed rapidly and impressively with necrotic and devitalized tissues as well as tenacious pus and fibrin deposits being replaced with healthy granulation tissue. Patients age, sex and bacterial burden did not influence the rate of debridement, rather wound age and necrotic burden were inversely proportional to the debridement rate. Honcrivine did not provoke any inflammatory response nor was any allergic reaction observed.

CONCLUSION: It is one of the oldest remedies known to mankind and is still useful and versatile today as it was 2000 years ago. It is a very effective chemical wound debridant.