Anglo-Saxon potion kills antibiotic-resistant MRSA

[Duncan Head]

This has been reported in various places - the original press release is at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/2015/march/ancientbiotics---a-medieval-remedy-for-modern-day-superbugs.aspx

[Nick Harbud]

You know, I think I tried something similar to this at a recent real ale festival.  I am not sure if the traditional brew was effective against bacteria, but it certainly killed brain cells....

[tadamson]

A couple of points..

1. The brewing process kills the bugs in the water, making beer much safer to drink than water in many times and places.

2. Alcohol itself is a fairly strong antibacterial compound.


caveat:  The bulk of pre-modern beer was 'small beer'  ie less than 1% alcohol.

[Tim]

Which is all members of the SoA are familiar with in their never ending search for historical accuracy...

[Mark G]

Never ending search for better beer is just as vital

[Jim Webster]

Another comment, MRSA might be resistant to antibiotics but it's not especially resistant to antiseptics
My late father had it a couple of times at least (he was being cared for at home at the time.)
The carer who was an ex-nurse just cleared it up using antiseptic soap and making sure that we disposed of the bandages properly.(It was winter so of course we had an open fire.)

MRSA seems to be a major problem when it gets into a deep wound or inside the body. In my father's case it was a surface infection.

Jim