ABSTRACT

 Honey has been used for various purposes including treatment of some diseases locally especially in wounds   and upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).  There is paucity of information on the scientific basis for the use of honey in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections caused by bacteria. This study was carried out to determine antibacterial activities of honey on upper respiratory organisms. The antimicrobial activities of the honeys were assessed against Streptococcus pyogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa  Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae using agar well diffusion technique. Broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the honey against the bacteria. Screening concentrations of neat honey and 80% honey inhibited Streptococcus pyogen and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to all concentrations of honeys except that inhibited the organism at 100% concentration. Orthodox antibiotics showed significantly higher mean zone of inhibition in relation to honey (P < 0.001). The sensitive organisms were inhibited in dose related manner. The mean MIC of the different honey was generally at 31.25% against Staphylococcus aureus while concentration of 50% showed bactericidal effect on Streptococcus pyogen. Klebsiella pneumoniae was inhibited at mean concentration of 31.5% and bactericidal effect was observed against the organism at 40% mean concentration.