Evaluation of Antibacterial Properties of Selected Nigerian Honey Variants Against Wound Pathogens Isolated at Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Kano

Wound infections remain a leading cause of prolonged hospitalisation and treatment complications in Nigerian tertiary healthcare facilities. Honey has been used empirically for wound management across Nigerian cultures, and scientific evidence increasingly supports its antibacterial properties. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of five Nigerian honey variants against clinical wound pathogens isolated at Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Kano. Honey samples included stingless bee, Apis mellifera, and forest honey variants from Kano, Oyo, and Adamawa States. Bacterial isolates included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis obtained from confirmed wound cultures. Agar well diffusion and broth microdilution methods were used to determine zones of inhibition and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Total phenolic content and hydrogen peroxide-generating capacity were also measured as markers of antibacterial mechanism. All honey variants showed inhibitory activity against at least three of the four test organisms. Stingless bee honey demonstrated the broadest antibacterial spectrum, with MBC values below 25% w/v against all four pathogens. Phenolic content correlated positively with antibacterial activity. These findings support the potential of Nigerian honeys, particularly stingless bee honey, as adjunctive wound care agents in resource-limited clinical settings. Keywords: honey, wound pathogens, antibacterial activity, Kano, stingless bee honey.