The Effect of Active Leptospermum Honey Gel on the Wounds of Patients with Immune Compromise

Chronic wounds fail to move through the reparative process in an orderly, timely fashion (Bryant &Nix, 2012). This complex process includes cytokines which are stimulated by the immune system. Wound patients with compromised immunity often become stalled in the inflammatory phase of healing. A component of active leptospermum honey (ALH) stimulates cytokine induction from human monocytes (Tonks et al., 2007). ALH is also effective in debriding chronic venous leg ulcers (Gethin &Cowman, 2008). A pictorial case study of immune compromised patients with full-thickness wounds were treated with ALH as the primary dressing:

• 65+female, diabetes, PAD, and history pelvic radiation. Stage 3 pressure ulcer on coccyx x7months with dense slough. Prior treatment, barrier ointment. Added an offloading seat cushion and serial debridement. Closed 8weeks, pain decreased.
• 55+male, new diabetes, discharged from ICU for ARF. Stage 3 pressure ulcer on coccyx x1month with dense slough. Prior treatment, wet-dry gauze.  Added an offloading seat cushion and serial debridement.  Closed 8weeks, pain decreased.
• 75+female, inflammatory arthritis, chronic steroids, chronic DVT left leg. Trauma wounds on left leg x1month with dense slough. Prior treatment, antibiotic ointment. Added compression stockings and serial debridement. Closed 4weeks.
• 45+female, uncontrolled diabetes, untreated leg lymphaedema.  2 neuropathic wounds on right great toe for greater than 6months. Prior treatment, garlic &band-aids. Added compression stockings and serial debridement. Refused footwear and lymph treatment. Closed 1month.
• 40+male, uncontrolled diabetes, resolving cellulitis right leg.  Neuropathic wounds on right foot, great toe, left 2^nd toe x1month with dense slough. Prior treatment, antibiotic ointment. Started ALH gel daily to debride. Left toe closed, right foot &toe wounds fully debrided in 1week.

These 5 patients with compromised immune systems from varied co-morbid conditions achieved wound closure in acceptable healing times using active leptospermum honey as the initial primary wound dressing.