Honey Dressing in the Management of Malodorous Wounds in Calabar, Southern Nigeria

Wound malodour is a common experience to patients and clinicians, yet it is underrated, not fully appreciated nor appropriately addressed. This report is aimed at demonstrating our experience with honey dressing in the management of malodorous wounds. It is an observational and prospective study carried on 63 out of 241 wound cases treated for a one year period. The study highlighted the aetiology, duration of the disappearance of the odour, the bioburden and surgical modalities of treatment. All patients with malodorous wounds were dressed with honey and some wounds were surgically debrided. The patients wounds odour were scored on the scale of zero to three daily. About 63 malodorous wounds were admitted out of 241 wound cases managed. The odour disappeared within few days on admission while some were palliatively treated. The common aetiologies were exudating wounds, pressure sores, venous ulcers, diabetic/neuropathic ulcers, fungating malignant ulcers and wounds with necrotic tissues. The bioburden included pseudomonas, klebsiella, staphylococcus aureus, coliforms, Bacteriodes, Enterococcus species. The treatment was by honey dressing, debridement and wound cover with skin graft and flap. Malodorous wounds are common in our practice and the use of honey dressing has proven to be very effective in their management.