Natural Oils May Help Staph Infections

DALLAS--In a poster presentation at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org), researchers reported that eucalyptus and tea-tree oils may be more effective for clearing up staph infections than antibiotics. The infection investigated in the study --methicillin-resistant staphylococcal--is caused by parasitic bacterium, which causes boils and other infections and makes up more than 90 percent of hospital-acquired infections.

The researchers, led by Eugene Sherry, M.D., from the University of Sydney in Australia, reported applying eucalyptus and tea tree oils topically to 25 patients as a wound sealant. In 22 cases, the infection cleared up; 19 were with the use of the oils and no antibiotics and 3 resolved with using both oils and antibiotics. In an interview with Reuters, Sherry reported that 10 of the patients who used the treatment were diabetic with wounds that are very difficult to heal. "These antibacterial agents are effective against [staph infections]," the study's authors concluded. "These oils are relatively nontoxic, [and] can be applied topically, ingested or inhaled."