The use of medical grade honey to reduce the incidence of surgical wound infection : a randomised controlled feasibility trial

Background: Patients having free tissue transfer for oral and oropharyngeal squamouscell carcinoma are susceptible to MRSA. There are many strategies to reduce woundinfection rates such as hand washing policies antibiotics but NICE guidelines suggest thatresearch is necessary to find alternatives, such as the use of medical grade honey. Todate, no rigorous study on the use of honey to prevent wound infection has been reported.Aim: To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial usingLeptospermum honey to reduce the incidence of wound infection following microvascularfree tissue reconstruction for head and neck cancer.Method: 70 consecutive patients having free tissue reconstruction 56 (80%) consented tobe randomised and 49 (70%) were actually randomised. Twenty five received honey and24 received conventional treatment. Data were collected between February 2008 andMarch 2009.Results: At seven days the honey group had more positive wound swabs compared to thenon-honey group 20% (5/25) v 13% (3/24) (p= 0.70) but at 28 days positive swab resultsin the non-honey group had increased to 50% (12/24 v 8/25 (p = 0.25). No adverse eventswere reported. Patients in the honey group spent significantly less time in hospital aftersurgery (p = 0.02) representing a saving between 0.2 days and 11.2 days. Satisfactionsurveys showed that honey dressings were acceptable to both patients and nurses.Discussion: The study indicated potential advantages in the application of honey as atopical antimicrobial to wounds healing by primary intention in head and neck surgeryleading to improvement in length of stay. The dressings were equal in cost compared tostandard dressings in this area of care. The study provided a framework on which a largemulticentre trial can be based to provide a rigorous RCT on the use of honey as aprophylaxis to wound infection in head and neck cancer.

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral (Level 8)

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Robson, V

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337474

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:salford-repository.worktribe.com:1337474