Honey could be the answer to anti-biotic resistance
Summary
TLDRDebbie's battle with sepsis and antimicrobial resistance highlights the urgent need for new treatments. Researchers are exploring honey's natural antimicrobial properties as an alternative to antibiotics, developing medical gels and sprays to combat resistant bacteria, including the deadly MRSA. With the potential to revolutionize infection control, these honey-based products aim to prevent and treat infections, offering hope in the face of a post-antibiotic era.
Takeaways
- π· Debbie contracted a severe urinary tract infection and assumed antibiotics would cure it.
- π¨ She developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body's response to infection causes damage to its own tissues.
- π Antibiotics administered were ineffective, leading to the discovery of antimicrobial resistance in her case.
- π Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health threat, with predictions that it could surpass cancer in mortality rates by 2050.
- π₯ The lack of effective antibiotics could signify the end of modern medicine as we know it.
- π€ Research into alternative treatments began with a curiosity about why bacteria do not survive in beehives, hinting at honey's natural antimicrobial properties.
- π― Honey has been used to treat infections for centuries due to its natural antibiotic properties but is challenging to apply in medical settings due to its sticky nature.
- π§ͺ Scientists are developing medical products from honey, such as sprays, creams, and powders, to make it more practical for medical use.
- π‘ Honey-based medical gel has been created, and researchers are exploring its potential as a preventative measure in surgeries and as an alternative to traditional antibiotics.
- π The honey used in these experiments has shown effectiveness against bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics, including the notorious superbug MRSA.
- π Debbie's case highlights the urgent need for new infection treatments, as traditional antibiotics nearly failed to save her life.
- π¬ With sufficient funding, it is hoped that honey-based medical products will undergo medical trials in the coming years.
Q & A
What health issue did Debbie initially contract?
-Debbie initially contracted a urinary tract infection.
What complication arose from Debbie's urinary tract infection?
-Debbie developed sepsis, a condition where the body's response to infection causes damage to its own tissues and organs.
Why were the antibiotics initially administered to Debbie not effective?
-The antibiotics were not effective because Debbie had antimicrobial resistance, meaning the microorganisms had evolved to withstand the drugs.
What is antimicrobial resistance and why is it alarming?
-Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms evolve to the point where drugs like antibiotics can no longer kill them. It's alarming because it's becoming more common and is predicted to kill more people than cancer by 2050.
What is the potential consequence of widespread antimicrobial resistance for modern medicine?
-If we reach a stage with no working antibiotics, it would essentially mean the end of modern medicine as we know it, as many medical procedures rely on the ability to prevent and treat infections.
What natural substance has been found to have antimicrobial properties?
-Honey has been found to have natural antimicrobial properties and has been used as a treatment for infections for centuries.
What is the challenge with using honey as a medical treatment in its natural state?
-The challenge with using honey in its natural state is that it's sticky, making it difficult to apply in surgery or on wounds.
What innovative approach is being taken to utilize honey in medical treatments?
-Researchers are developing honey-based medical products such as sprays, creams, and powders that can be easily applied to different parts of the body.
What has been the progress in developing honey-based medical products?
-Honey-based medical gel has already been developed, and researchers are looking to take the idea further with other forms of application.
How could honey-based products be used in medical settings?
-Honey-based products could be used preventatively before a surgical incision and potentially as an alternative to antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.
What is the significance of the research on honey-based treatments in the context of Debbie's experience?
-The research on honey-based treatments is significant because it represents a different approach to fighting infection, which could have saved Debbie, who nearly died due to antibiotic resistance.
What is the next step for honey-based medical products if funding is secured?
-If funding is found, these honey-based products will be brought to medical trials in the next few years.
Outlines
π· Antibiotic Resistance and Honey's Potential
The script discusses the alarming issue of antibiotic resistance, which is predicted to become a greater cause of death than cancer by 2050. The story of Debbie, who nearly died due to sepsis and ineffective antibiotics, highlights the urgency of this issue. It introduces the concept of using honey, with its natural antimicrobial properties, as an alternative treatment for infections. The narrative explains how researchers are working to transform the sticky substance into more practical forms like sprays, creams, and powders for medical use. The development of honey-based medical gel is mentioned, and its effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA, is underscored. The hope is that with funding, these honey-based treatments will undergo medical trials in the near future.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Urinary tract infection
π‘Sepsis
π‘Antimicrobial resistance
π‘Honey
π‘Natural antibiotics
π‘Surgical wound
π‘Medical gel
π‘Superbug
π‘Medical trial
π‘Research funding
π‘Survivor
Highlights
Debbie contracted a urinary tract infection and initially assumed antibiotics would be effective.
Debbie developed sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body attacks itself due to an infection.
Antibiotics administered were ineffective, leading to the discovery of antimicrobial resistance.
Antimicrobial resistance is becoming increasingly common, posing a significant health threat.
By 2050, antimicrobial resistance is predicted to cause more deaths than cancer.
The absence of effective antibiotics could signify the end of modern medicine.
Research into natural alternatives to antibiotics began with a question about bacteria and beehives.
Honey has been used as an infection treatment for centuries due to its natural antimicrobial properties.
Honey contains natural antibiotics but is difficult to apply in medical settings due to its sticky texture.
Researchers are developing honey-based medical products such as sprays, creams, and powders.
Honey-based medical gel has been created, and further development aims to enhance its application in medicine.
The honey-based gel could be used as a preventative measure in surgeries and as an alternative to antibiotics.
Honey has shown the ability to kill bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics, including the superbug MRSA.
Debbie's experience with the sixth antibiotic highlights the urgent need for alternative infection treatments.
The development of honey-based medical products could offer a new approach to fighting infections.
Funding and medical trials are needed to bring these honey-based products to market.
The potential of honey as an antimicrobial agent could revolutionize the treatment of infections.
Transcripts
I was I was grateful you gravely ill
when Debbie contracted a urinary tract
infection she assumed antibiotics would
take care of it but things went downhill
fast
I developed sepsis well your body sort
of goes into overdrive and it attacks
itself they started pumping out about
two into me and then as HD passed they
found that that antibiotic wasn't
working I was deteriorating d on d why
weren't these antibiotics working I
found out that I had antimicrobial
resistance it's becoming more and more
common which is what the alarming thing
is and why we have to do something
antimicrobial resistance happens when
microorganisms such as these bacteria
evolve and drugs such as antibiotics can
no longer kill them aunty microbial
resistance is predicted to kill more
people than cancer by 2050 and if we get
to a stage where we have no working
antibiotics it would essentially mean
the end of modern medicine research
really started with a curious question
around wide can bacteria not survive in
in a beehive and one of the main reasons
for that is the natural antimicrobial
properties of honey honey has been used
as a treatment for infection for
centuries it contained natural
antibiotics which can kill bacteria the
problem is it's sticky which means it's
very difficult to use in surgery or on a
wound we're taking it from something
that's thick and sticky and turning it
into sprays creams and powders that can
be easily applied to lots of different
parts of the body honey based medical
gel has already been developed the team
here want to take that idea further
simulated wound it's killing the
bacteria here we have our emotion that's
got the the droplets of the honey and
this could be used preventatively as
well so before a surgeon makes an
incision with that work potentially as
well as a an antibiotic prescribed by a
doctor so this is an alternative to
using an antibiotic and what's really
promising about this honey
that has already been shown to kill
bacteria that are resistant to
conventional antibiotics such as the
super bug mr sa the sixth antibiotic
doctors tried on debbie did work but she
very nearly died and welcomes a
different approach to fighting infection
part of the double-edged swords have
been a survivor is the fact that so many
people don't make it will have to
support research so that we'll find
other methods of treating infections
it's hoped that if funding is found
these products will be brought to
medical trial in the next few years -
Muffit
BBC News
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