Geri Çekildi: Could niaouli aromatherapy oil be an option in the treatment of urinary tract infections in hemiplegic patients?

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 7 Sayı: 4, 540 - 545, 28.07.2025

Nilüfer Aygün Bilecik , Gülşah Yaşa Öztürk

Bu makale geri çekilmiştir. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/acmj/issue/75475/1227991

Geri Çekme Notu

Article Title: Could niaouli aromatherapy oil be an option in the treatment of bladder holes in hemiplegic patients?
Authors: Gülşah Yaşa Öztürk, Nilüfer Aygün Bilecik
Publication Information: Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 2023; 5(1): 59–64
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38053/acmj.1227991
Date of Publication: January 20, 2023
Date of Retraction: July 28, 2025
This article has been retracted at the request of the authors and upon the decision of the editorial board. The authors indicated that certain methodological and editorial deficiencies in the study might lead to scientific misinterpretation and erroneous citations.
Specifically, the following concerns were noted:
• A statement in the abstract was susceptible to misleading interpretations due to a translation inaccuracy.
• Discrepancies existed between the patient data presented in the tables and the narrative content.
• Reviewer recommendations were not fully reflected in the final version of the manuscript.
These issues raised concerns regarding the reliability of the publication. Upon recognizing these shortcomings, the authors requested the retraction in accordance with their ethical responsibilities as researchers. After evaluation, the editorial board approved the retraction of the article.
This decision was made in alignment with the journal’s commitment to scientific transparency, integrity, and publication ethics. The original article will remain accessible for academic record purposes and will be clearly marked as RETRACTED.
On behalf of the Editorial Board,
Aydın Çifci, Prof., MD.
Anatolian Current Medical Journal
[e-mail]

Öz

Aim: Stroke remains a massive public health burden, affecting approximately 795,000 individuals each year. It is the leading cause of long-term disability in adults and the third leading cause of death in developed countries. After a stroke, medical complications are common and can prolong hospital stay, worsen stroke outcomes, and increase the cost of care. The most common medical complications related to stroke are infections, including pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI). Intervention strategies previously investigated in these cases and other patient populations include prophylactic antibiotics, antiseptic-impregnated catheters, and quality improvement interventions to reduce inappropriate catheterization. In addition, in recent years, complementary and alternative medicine methods, such as Melaleuca viridiflora (also known as tea tree or Niaouli oil) have become increasingly popular. The primary uses of this oil have historically been associated with the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects of this plant. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of M. viridiflora (Niaouli) oil in the treatment of UTIs in stroke patients.
Material and Method: We did not find any study in the literature on the effects of Niaouli aromatherapeutic oil on UTIs, which are common in hemiplegic patients; therefore, we planned the current study. The hospital records were screened to identify patients treated at the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit of Health Sciences University Adana City Training and Research Hospital, who were diagnosed with UTIs during their follow-up and recommended Niaouli aromatherapy oil as a complementary treatment. The oil was supplied by the patients themselves. As the method of use, the patients were asked to prepare a washing solution by dripping 10 drops of Niaouli oil into 1 liter of water. The patients were recommended to wash the perineum area three times a day with this solution for 20 days.
Results: The mean age of the hemiplegic patients evaluated in the study was 51.55±19.20 (min=18, max=77) years. Of the patients, 72.7% were male, 42.4% had an American Spinal Injury Association classification of C, 54.5% had spontaneous bladder emptying, and 30.3% had stage 1, 21.1% had stage 2, and 3.0% had stage 3 spasticity. Leukocyte esterase and leukocyte in urine and sedimentation values​ statistically significantly decreased in the post-treatment period compared to the pre-treatment period.
Conclusion: UTI is a common complication in stroke patients. In this study, it was determined that the efficacy of the treatment of UTIs increased, and the use of antibiotics significantly decreased with the utilization of the fungicidal and bactericidal effects of M. viridiflora (Niaouli) aromatherapy oil.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Stroke, urinary tract infection, Melaleuca viridiflora (Niaouli), aromatherapy

Destekleyen Kurum

none

Kaynakça

• World Health Organization, Top 10 Global Causes of Deaths, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland,2016, https: //www.who.int/en/news-room/factsheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death 2018.
• Doshi VS, Say JH, Young SH, Doraisamy P. Complications in stroke patients: a study carried out at the Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Changi General Hospital. Singapore Med J 2003; 44: 643-52.
• Weimar C, Roth MP, Zillessen G, et al. German Stroke Date Bank Collaborators. Complications following acute ischemic stroke. Eur Neurol 2002; 48: 133-40.
• Davenport RJ, Dennis MS, Wellwood I, Warlow CP. Complications after acute stroke. Stroke 1996; 27: 415-20.
• Foxman B. Epidemiology of urinary tract infections: incidence, morbidity, and economic costs. Am J Med 2002; 113: 5-13.
• Ersoz M, Ulusoy H, Oktar MA, Akyuz M. Urinary tract infection and bacteriurua in stroke patients: frequencies, pathogen microorganisms, and risk factors. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007; 86: 734-41.
• Klehmet J, Harms H, Richter M, et al. Stroke-induced immunodepression and post-stroke infections: lessons from the preventive antibacterial therapy in stroke trial. Neuroscience 2009; 158: 1184-93.
• Kong KH, Young S. Incidence and outcome of poststroke urinary retention: a prospective study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2000; 81: 1464-7.
• Schwarz S, Al-Shajlawi F, Sick C, Meairs S, Hennerici MG. Effects of prophylactic antibiotic therapy with mezlocillin plus sulbactam on the incidence and height of fever after severe acute ischemic stroke: the Mannheim Infection in Stroke Study (MISS). Stroke 2008; 39: 1220-7.
• Schumm K, Lam TB. Types of urethral catheters for management of short-term voiding problems in hospitalised adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008; 2: CD004013
• Guenther E. Australian tea tree oils. Report of a field survey. Perfum Essent Oil Rec 1968; 59: 642-4.
• Homer LE, Leach DN, Lea D, Lee LS, Henry RJ, Baverstock PR. Natural variation in the essential oil content of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (Myrtaceae). Biochem Syst Ecol 2000; 28: 367-82.
• May J, Chan CH, King A, Williams L, French GL. Time-kill studies of tea tree oils on clinical isolates. J Antimicrob Chemother 2000; 45: 639-43.
• Sikkema J, de Bont JA, Poolman B. Mechanisms of membrane toxicity of hydrocarbons. Microbiol Rev 1995; 59: 201-22.
• Carson CF, Mee BJ, Riley TV. Mechanism of action of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil on Staphylococcus aureus determined by time-kill, lysis, leakage, and salt tolerance assays and electron microscopy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002; 46: 1914-20.
• Cox SD, Gustafson JE, Mann CM, et al. Tea tree oil causes K+ leakage and inhibits respiration in Escherichia coli. Lett Appl Microbiol 1998; 26: 355-8.
• Longbottom CJ, Carson CF, Hammer KA, Mee BJ, Riley TV. Tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil is associated with the outer membrane and energy-dependent cellular processes. J Antimicrob Chemother 2004; 54: 386-92.
• D’Auria FD, Laino L, Strippoli V, et al. In vitro activity of tea tree oil against Candida albicans mycelial conversion and other pathogenic fungi. J Chemother 2001; 13: 377-83.
• Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W. Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro. Skin Pharmacol 1996; 9: 388-94.
• Minami M, Kita M, Nakaya T, Yamamoto T, Kuriyama H, Imanishi J. The inhibitory effect of essential oils on herpes simplex virus type-1 replication in vitro. Microbiol Immunol 2003; 47: 681-4.
• PENA EF. Melaleuca alternifolia oil. Its use for trichomonal vaginitis and other vaginal infections. Obstet Gynecol 1962; 19: 793-5.
• Rocco A, Pasquini M, Cecconi E, et al. Monitoring after the acute stage of stroke: a prospective study. Stroke 2007; 38: 1225-8.
• Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, et al. Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: 2019 Update to the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2019; 50: e344.
• Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust 1990; 153: 455-8.
• Halcón L, Milkus K. Staphylococcus aureus and wounds: a review of tea tree oil as a promising antimicrobial. Am J Infect Control 2004; 32: 402-8.
• Veien NK, Rosner K, Skovgaard GL. Is tea tree oil an important contact allergen?. Contact Dermatitis 2004; 50: 378-79.
• Anonymous, WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants, Vol.2 (ISBN 92 4 1545372), WHO, Geneva (2001)