Funding Body

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation ($97,145)

Project Description

This project aims to provide preliminary data on whether the practice of washing wounds with a tea tree oil solution is beneficial in terms of eliminating anti-biotic resistant organisms, specifically Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), and whether it affects wound healing in a positive manner.

The study was conducted amongst Silver Chain domiciliary metropolitan clients receiving current wound care.  A minimum of fourteen (and a maximum of 25) adults who are receiving wound care from Silver Chain for a wound that has been shown to be MRSA colonised were to be recruited into the study and their wound washed at each dressing change with a tea tree oil wash. The outcomes assessed included the wound healing rate as well as the microbiological evidence of MRSA colonisation level.

Project Update

Recruitment of clients began in April 2007 and was stopped in March 2008.  The decision was made to stop recruitment because of the slow recruitment rate and apparent poor outcomes . A total of 21 clients were screened and 14 recruited.  Eleven of these clients had MRSA in their wounds but three of those recruited were subsequently found not to have MRSA in their wound (due to delay in receiving swab results).  Only two clients completed the 12 weeks trial period and just one client’s wound has healed.  Seven clients have, for a variety of reasons, been unable or ineligible to continue in the trial. All client and pathology data have been collected, entered and analysed to determine if any treatment effects are evident.

Results

Two key findings arose from this study. Firstly, when applied during the wound cleansing step as a wound irrigant, 3.3% tea tree oil was unable to decolonise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from wounds. Secondly, wounds to which this tea tree oil irrigant was applied began to heal; most wounds were smaller after the tea tree oil product was used and this included chronic wounds. This is despite most participants being withdrawn from the study due to the commencement of antibiotics.
An additional finding from this small study was that tea tree oil appeared safe to use and was well-tolerated on open wounds, including some large wounds. Furthermore, there were no irritant or allergic reactions to the tea tree oil product.

Recommendations

Larger, comparative, randomised, controlled clinical trials evaluating the influence of tea tree oil on the healing of chronic wounds should be conducted, preferably evaluating wound care products formulated with tea tree oil and designed to be left in situ as part of the wound dressing. This will require collaboration between tea tree oil producers, wound care product manufacturers, care agencies and researchers. It is also felt that with less stringent inclusion criteria,  the issues related to the slow recruitment rate may be reduced.
 
The final report has been submitted to the funding body and this will be made available on the website shortly.

Related Links

Wound Care Manual
An up to date practical guide for the management of all types of wounds.

For further information please contact
Nelly Newall
Clinical Research Co-ordinator
Email  NNewall@silverchain.org.au