Effectiveness of a honey dressing for healing pressure ulcers

J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2007 Mar-Apr;34(2):184-90. doi: 10.1097/01.WON.0000264833.11108.35.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of a honey dressing vs an ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressing in patients with pressure ulcers.

Design: This 5-week randomized clinical trial evaluated the effect of a honey dressing on pressure ulcer healing.

Setting and subjects: Thirty-six patients with a total of 68 stage II or III pressure ulcers referred from a university hospital in Izmir were enrolled in the study. Twenty-six subjects completed the trial.

Instruments: Ulcers were measured with acetate tracings and Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) evaluations.

Methods: Fifteen patients with 25 pressure ulcers were treated with honey dressings, and 11 patients with 25 pressure ulcers were treated with ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressings. Wound healing was assessed weekly using the PUSH tool, version 3.0. The primary outcome measure was the change in PUSH tool scores in each group at 5 weeks.

Results: The two groups were statistically similar with regard to baseline and wound characteristics. After 5 weeks of treatment, patients who were treated by honey dressing had significantly better PUSH tool scores than subjects treated with the ethoxy-diaminoacridine plus nitrofurazone dressing (6.55 +/- 2.14 vs 12.62 +/- 2.15, P < .001).

Conclusion: By week 5, PUSH tool scores showed that healing among subjects using a honey dressing was approximately 4 times the rate of healing in the comparison group. The use of a honey dressing is effective and practical.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aminacrine / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / therapeutic use
  • Bandages / standards*
  • Clinical Nursing Research
  • Female
  • Honey / standards*
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitrofurazone / therapeutic use
  • Nursing Assessment / methods
  • Pressure Ulcer / classification
  • Pressure Ulcer / diagnosis
  • Pressure Ulcer / prevention & control*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Skin Care / methods*
  • Skin Care / nursing
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Turkey
  • Wound Healing

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Aminacrine
  • Nitrofurazone