Antibacterial activities of honey against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus: A potential treatment for bacterial infections and alternative to antibiotics

Abstract

The global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased interest in natural products, such as honey in the treatment of diseases. This study evaluated the antibacterial activities of honey against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to May 2021 using E. coli and S. aureus as indicator organisms. The antibacterial activities of honey were assessed using the agar well diffusion assay. The sensitivities of E. coli and S. aureus to honey were indicated by zones of inhibition which were measured using a ruler in millimetres. Data analysis was performed using Stata version 16.1. Honey produced a dose-dependent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Our study demonstrated that honey had stronger antibacterial activities against E. coli compared to S. aureus. This study highlights the need for further research on honey to investigate its potential use in treating bacterial infections.