Evaluation of honey as an antibacterial agent against drug-resistant uropathogenic E. coli strains

E.coli was reported as an uro-pathogen which is difficult to treat because of its multidrug resistance as well as its growth in biofilms. This study was designed to study resistance pattern, biofilm formation ability among uropathogenic E.coli, and to evaluate the action of Egyptian honey types as an antibacterial agent. Strains were collected, antibiotic susceptibility testing and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) detection were assessed. Biofilm formation ability was detected by the TCP method. The activity of Egyptian honey types (citrus, camphor, marjoram, and black seed honey) was tested by using agar well diffusion and micro-broth dilution techniques. 17 uropathogenic E. coli strains were collected, at which high resistance rates toward ampicillin, cephalosporins (ceftazidime/ cefotaxime) ranging from 77% to 100%. Imipenem was the most active antibiotic (94%). 64.7% were ESBL producers while only 35.3% were non-ESBL producers. 12 isolates (70.6%) were found to be biofilm formers at which 3 (17.7%) of them were categorized as moderate biofilm formers and 9 (52.9%) were categorized as weak biofilm formers. Only 5 isolates (29.4%) were non-biofilm formers. 50% citrus honey concentration was defined as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 3 isolates, and a concentration of 12.5% was defined as MIC for 1 isolate. Our study showed high AR rates toward the used antibiotics, besides the ESBL production and biofilm formation ability. Egyptian citrus honey at a concentration of 50% and 12.5% had the ability to inhibit 23.53% of E.coli isolates, having antibacterial potency against those AR pathogenic strains.