Auscan Melaleuca Ltd.

NEWSLETTER #4
APRIL 2002

The following presentation was made to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at their February 2002 Annual Meeting.

Alternative for MRS and Tuberculosis (TB): Eucalyptus and Tea-Tree Oils as New Topical Antibacterials – Eugene Sherry, MD Sydney, Australia and P.H.H. Warnke, PhD, Kiel, Germany

INTRODUCTION: Over 90% of hospital-acquired infections in Australia are methicillin-resistant staphylococcal (MRSA) infections. We report our use of topical antibacterials derived from Eucalyptus and Tea Tree plants, with debridement, for the treatment of musculoskeletal infections where antibiotics have failed. We have also shown these oils to be strongly effective, in vitro, against a broad range of gram positive and negative bacteria, as well as tuberculosis (M.tb).

METHODS: Twenty-five MRSA cases were treated; sixteen involved bone; six a joint and three, soft-tissues. Ten patients were diabetic. Debridement was done and the agents applied topically to the region. Osteoset beads soaked in the agent were used in three cases. At a certified TB lab (Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW), we tested the agents against five wild strains of M.tb Counts (cfu/ml) were kept with controls, for six weeks (Feb.2, 2001 – March 12, 2001).

RESULTS: Recently, these oils were applied, as a biological wound sealant, to 510 orthopaedic surgical wounds with five instances of localized sensitivity (no infection occurred). In twenty-two cases, the infection resolved, either without (19 patients), or with antibiotics (3 patients). The M.tb in vitro data showed that the five strains of M.tb exposed for five minutes of longer were killed (at one minute > 90% of the M.tb were killed).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These antibacterial agents are effective against MRSA. This is the first report of their tuberculocidal activity. These oils are relatively non-toxic, can be applied topically, ingested or inhaled (possible mass treatment of TB).

Please note: All Auscan newsletter articles are for information purposes only and not to be considered medical advice.