Biological studies of the activity of Manuka honey against Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potency of Manuka honey UMF +15 against Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE). Bacterial resistance is a worldwide problem that is increasing year by year, especially Carbapenem resistance. Alternatives to antibiotics are needed to both reduce costs, and to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance, with the ultimate goal of saving lives.

METHODS: The efficacy of Manuka honey UMF +15 was tested by 2 methods; Well diffusion assay and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against twenty Carbapenem-resistant isolates which collected from Makkah city hospitals during three months of study from 1st of September 2023 up to 1st of December 2023.

RESULTS: The growth of all isolates of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) was severely inhibited by low concentrations of Manuka honey, affecting 25% of isolates at 15% and 75% of isolates at 18% of Manuka honey. In addition, using the honey at different concentrations in a well diffusion assay resulted, as expected, in a variable zone diameter, ranging from large zones(14mm) to small zones (2 mm) according to the concentration of the honey.

CONCLUSION: This study shows the remarkable antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and suggests that this natural remedy might be used in the future as an alternative treatment option against Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE); however, further clinical trials should be performed to corroborate our initial findings.