A NEW weapon in the war against superbugs has been backed by Winchester MP Steve Brine.

Surgihoney reactive oxygen is a bioengineered medical honey for the treatment of infected wounds.

Available as a prescription on the NHS, laboratory tests show Surgihoney RO – which was pioneered in Winchester – is effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria, including drug-resistant MRSA and E.coli.

It works by generating oxygen free radicals – reactive molecules containing oxygen – which can kill bacteria.

Now the MP has pledged to speak to health ministers about the new approach to fighting infection.

Mr Brine, parliamentary private secretary to health secretary Jeremy Hunt, said: “Resistance to antibiotics is now a very real and worrying threat. Tackling this crisis is a priority for the UK government and the World Health Organisation.”

He was briefed about the product by Dr Matthew Dryden, clinical microbiologist and director of infection at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who led the early research, and Ian Staples, chief executive of the British biotech company Matoke Holdings that developed it.

The global threat from multi-drug resistant bacteria has forced researchers to look for alternatives to antibiotics.

Dr Dryden said: “Surgihoney RO is active against all the resistant bacteria tested. It won’t replace the need for antibiotics but it can act in place of antibiotics in eradicating pathogens in wounds to reduce inflammation and prevent further spread of infection.

“The potential of Reactive Oxygen in controlling some deeper respiratory and urinary infections is under investigation. This is a very exciting development.”

Surgihoney RO was clinically evaluated at several centres, including the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, where it improved healing of challenging wounds, such as leg and foot ulcers.