CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Honey is defined as a sweet substance produced by honey bees from the nectar of blossoms or from secretions on living plants, which the bees collect, transform, and store in  honey combs. (The encyclopedia Britannica, 1981). Honey is also defined as sweet, liquid food, dark golden brown in colour, produced in the honey sacs of various bees from the nectar of flowers, flavour and colour are determined by the flower from which the nectar is gathered. (The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1981).

Honey has been used for the treatment of infected wounds hundreds of years ago, even before the discovery of bacteria as causes of infections (Gunther, 1968). Honey has been employed to shorten the duration of diarrhoea in patients with bactericidal gastroenteritis due to bacterial infection as well as applied to heal wounds like the conventional antibiotics and antiseptics (Haffejee and Moosa, 1985). More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect on about 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives (Molan, 1992). Antifungal action has also been observed for some yeast and Aspergillus sp. And Penicillium sp.  (Molan, 1992), as well as the common dermatophytes (Brady et al., 1997).

The current antibiotic resistant microbial species, for example proteous spp and Klebsiella species resistant to gentamicin, amikacin and ceftazidine, as well as toxicity toconventional therapy among other factors, have led to resurgence of ancient remedies. (Helbling et al., 1992). Honey has been employed by individuals for its numerous therapeutic benefits, since as a natural product it produces very few adverse effects (Helbling et al., 1992).

1.1       STATEMENT OF RESEARCH PROBLEM

Some entrobacteriocea is ubiquitous organisms present in many diverse environmental settings, and it can be isolated from various living sources, including plants, animals, and humans. The ability of some entrobaceriocea to survive on minimal nutritional requirements and to tolerate a variety of physical conditions has allowed these organisms to persist in both community and hospital setting. Despite the wide distribution of some entrobact in nature and the potential for community acquired infections, serious infection with it are predominately hospital acquired that resist treatment.

A study published in 2007 found that infections with a strain called Methicillin Resistant of some entrobacteriocae (MRSA) are spreading and pose a major health problem in United States. (Keneth, 2008). MRSA can invade tissues and organs causing blood and bone infections, pneumonia and inflammation of the lining of the heart, MRSA infection frequently occur in health care settings, but are also increasing in the general community. (Keneth, 2008).

1.2 JUSTIFICATION

Honey has been used to treat infections in a wide range of wound types including leg ulcers, boils and infected wound from lower limb surgery (Bett and Molan, 2001).

The current antibiotic resistant microbial species such as gentamicin, amikacin and ceftazidine as well as toxicity to conventional therapy among other factors have led to the resurgence of ancient remedies (Helbling et al., 1992).

The antibacterial activities of bee honey necessitate this study as to see whether or not bee honey replaces the conventional antibiotics in the treatment of some entrobacteriocae (Keneth, 2008).

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES

1.3.1 Aim

The aim of this research is to determine the antibacterial activity of honey on clinical isolates of some entrobacteriocea

1.3.2 Objectives                      

1.                  To determine the sensitivity of clinical isolates of some entrobacteriocea to honey.

2.                  To determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of honey on clinical isolates of some entrobacteriocea

3.                  To isolates the organisms some entrobacteriocea