Non-healing wounds are usually colonised and contaminated by different types of bacteria. An alternative to antibiotic treatment in patients with infected wounds with local signs of inflammation may be medical grade honey (MGH). MGH has antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory features. This study aims to evaluate the effect of MGH therapy on infected non-healing wounds, especially for diabetic foot syndrome. Prospective, observational case series (n = 5) of patients with wounds of diabetic foot syndrome are presented. There were five males with an average age of 61.6 years. All wounds were treated with MGH, and the healing trajectory was rigorously and objectively monitored. In all cases, there was a gradual disappearance of odour, pain, and exudation. Moreover, the wound areas significantly reduced within 40 days and there was a decrease in glycated haemoglobin and glycaemia values. All these outcomes resulted in improved quality of life of the patients. Despite bacterial colonisation, antibiotic treatment was not necessary. All wounds were completely healed. MGH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in diabetic foot syndrome wounds, does not increase glycated haemoglobin or glycaemia levels, and thus constitutes an effective alternative to the use of antibiotics in the treatment of locally infected wounds.

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Maastricht University Medical Centre 6202 AZ Maastricht The Netherlands

Department of Health Sciences College of Polytechnics Jihlava 586 01 Jihlava Czech Republic

Department of Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University 625 00 Brno Czech Republic

Department of Nursing and Midwifery Faculty of Health Studies University of West Bohemia 301 00 Pilsen Czech Republic

DiaPodi Care spol s r o 392 01 Soběslav Czech Republic

Faculty of Health and Social Sciences University of South Bohemia 370 11 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Triticum Exploitatie BV Sleperweg 44 6222 NK Maastricht The Netherlands

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Medical-Grade Honey Is a Versatile Wound Care Product for the Elderly