Researchers have developed a potential nebulization treatment with the use of manuka honey that clears drug resistant lung infection, which can be deathly in patients with cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis can lead to terminal Mycobacterium abscessus lung infections that are incredibly hard to treat. There have been attempts to created treatments for this conditions however not many of them have succeed. In a new study published in the journal Microbiology Society on September 07, 2022, a team of researchers from Aston University of Britain have developed a new treatment that uses antibacterial honey called Manuka honey.
People with bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or other type of chronic lung diseases often suffer Mycobacterium absccessus infection in lungs, in which cavities are formed in the lungs, or tissues get thick due to the infection causing respiratory failure. These bacteria have thick cell walls, which makes them drug resistant. In this new study, the researchers explored uses of Manuka honey to find a more efficient alternative to treat this condition. Manukan honey contains methylglyoxal, an antibiotic compound, along with the chemicals that produce hydrogen-peroxide. The scientists gathered Mycobacterium abscessus bacteria from 16 patients with the infection. They placed these samples in a lung-models prepared in labs and used a nebulizer producing a refined inhalable liquid spray, for administering a mixture of Manuka honey and amikacin, a common antibiotic.
The researchers found that, 2 micrograms per milliliter dosage of amikacin in the mixture can kill all the bacteria. When the drug is to be administered by conventional methods, it is used in 16micrograms per ml dosage. As per the researchers, combination of a completely natural ingredient, Manuka honey and the most essential yet toxic drug, amikacin, makes a potential treatment that kills the bacteria with significantly lesser amount of drug, as compared to any other method. This treatment may also reduce adverse side effects linked to amikacin and enhance the life quality of patients suffering from cystic fibrosis.
