Antimicrobial and healing-promoting properties of animal and plant oils for the treatment of infected wounds

Abstract

Chronic wounds are a serious medical problem both in the hospital and community setting. The healing of chronic wounds is often compromised by colonisation of different bacterial pathogens leading to life-threatening infections. Bacterial infections are a critical contributing factor to chronic wounds and can lead to biofilm formation and inhibition of innate inflammatory responses, including the reduction of acute inflammation. Concerningly, the overuse of systemic antibiotics and the use of traditional therapeutics, including topical antimicrobials – iodine, chlorhexidine and silver – have both greatly contributed to the development of a global increase in antimicrobial resistance. This has therefore led to a renewed interest in natural and alternative antimicrobial treatment strategies in wound care for the treatment of infected wounds. This review summarises the pre-clinical and clinical evidence that exists for the use of natural remedies, namely essential and animal oils, as adjunctive therapeutic approaches for the treatment of infected wounds. It also discusses novel approaches in nanotechnology that are being used for the development of natural remedies aimed at improving the healing of infected chronic wounds.