A Novel 100% Manuka Honey Impregnated Foam Promoted an Optimal Moist Wound Healing Environment in Necrotic Wounds of Various Etiologies

Ideal wound healing requires a properly prepared wound bed and moisture balance, so efficient tools are necessary. Debridement of necrotic tissue is essential because necrotic tissue delays wound reconstruction and closure. Manuka honey promotes a moist wound environment, optimal for wound healing and for autolytic debridement. The high sugar content and osmotic pressure gradient it creates helps transfer exudate from the wound bed to an absorbent dressing. So wound exudate must be effectively managed and absorbed from the wound bed to prevent skin breakdown and periwound maceration. In a novel 100% medical grade Manuka honey impregnated foam dressing, visible hexagonal -shaped compartments hold the honey, which ensures that the honey is retained optimally in and around the wound area instead of leaking out from the sides of the foam. The aim of this study was to describe the use of this novel dressing on hospice patients.

A convenience sample of 10 patients with wounds with slough and necrotic tissue was selected, at clinician discretion. The honey impregnated foam dressing was applied per the instructions for use, and standard wound care protocols were followed. The wound was regularly assessed.

The honey impregnated foam dressing made a visible and measurable difference in the wound bed. The slough decreased and became very loose. Notably, an unstageable pressure ulcer improved and turned into a stage III ulcer. The product could be cut to fit the wound, without having honey leak out of the edges. The dressing was also easy to secure. This 100% medical grade Manuka honey impregnated foam dressing was found to be a useful tool to keep in stock.