Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy

Biography

Biography: Shamim Ahmad

Abstract

Prevalence of alarming multi-antibiotic- resistance among clinical bacteria all over the world has led researchers to think about the development of an effective antibacterial agent to combat many human diseases including multi-resistant pathogens specially involving superbugs-MRSA, VRSA and other organisms. The answer may be hidden in Honey, a natural bee product having an excellent “track record” over 4 000 years of usage as a wound dressing and being easily available over the globe. Honey is a remarkable viscous fluid, prepared by bees from flowers of various plants. Surprisingly, medical uses of Honey for curing various ailments have been endorsed by Holy Quran as “Healer for Mankind”, and Prophetic Narrations beside Vedas and Bible books. The Russians made its use in 1st World War to prevent wound infection. Honey has been found to be effective against aerobic, anaerobic, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In the recent times, it has been “rediscovered”, with numerous reports of animal models including studies in our laboratory on corneal ulcers’ rabbit models and clinical studies, case reports and randomised controlled trials. The results, thus, have encouraged the use of honey in clinical practice as a natural and safe wound healer. Many International workers including our laboratory have explored Honey’s miracles in various medical fields like Microbiology, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Dentistry and even cosmetics. Further, A long term in vitro and in vivo research on antibacterial tests and curative properties of Manuka Honey on MRSA,MSSA from Eye patients in UK along with recent treatment trials in dry eye syndromes in human beings in our laboratories in India provides potential prospects and scope of Honey to fight many resistant bacterial population not only in eye infections but many human ailments including alarming untreated and unhealed wounds and ulcers as a possible alternate effective antibacterial option in future particularly involving multi-resistant super bugs like Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA strains.