Dilute honey 'may fight urine infections'

[Northerner]

Honey and water might be a useful weapon against urine infections in hospital patients, say UK researchers.

Patients often have a catheter fitted, either to drain urine stuck in the bladder or to monitor urine output.

But these flexible tubes can harbour nasty bugs and cause infection.

Scientists at University of Southampton have shown in the lab that diluted honey stops some common bacteria from forming sticky, hard-to-remove layers on surfaces such as plastic.

In theory, a honey solution might be useful for flushing urinary catheters to keep them clean while they remain in the bladder.

Many more trials would be needed to check it would be safe to use in humans, however.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37471076

I had a catheter fitted when diagnosed...and developed a UTI from it

 

[mikeyB]

That's the researchers just getting hold of Manuka honey without paying for it. Clever boys and girls. As the article says, it's been known for thousands of years that honey is a healing agent and helps stop infection. And it would work with bog standard supermarket honey.

Safe to use in humans? Give me strength

 

[AlisonM]

As @mikeyB says, it's long been known that honey has antiseptic properties, so, another example of NSSR as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Radders]

My mum had honey dressings on a wound dressed by the NHS nurses in 2010.

 

[Copepod]

I used ordinary runny honey to treat pressure sores suffered by people with spinal injuries and high levels of vitamin C tablets to treat UTIs in Mexico in 1991.

 

[HOBIE]

I normally put mine on me toast

 

[mikeyB]

I used ordinary runny honey to treat pressure sores suffered by people with spinal injuries and high levels of vitamin C tablets to treat UTIs in Mexico in 1991.

Aye, and I bet you used maggots to get rid of dead tissue as well. You can clean up pressure sores in a few days with maggots, then set about getting the healing done.

 

[Copepod]

Yes, used maggots to remove dead tissue from wounds in a hospital in London in late 1980s, plus leeches to remove blood clots from usder ski flaps. We encouraged patients to name their invertebrates, but most couldn't think a name, so nearly all were called Rover!

 

[Ljc]

Back January the lady in the bed opposite me had the little wrigglers bandaged onto her leg to have their din dins 😉, they did a pretty good job of it too.