American Foulbrood (AFB) is a serious disease of honey bees. It is caused by a spore forming bacteria called Paenibacillus larvae. It occurs throughout the world. The bacteria kill the larvae in the brood cell.

Early research on the use of bee venom for osteoarthritis is mixed. But one large study shows that injecting bee venom into the skin at certain points in the knees and back might improve pain and function in people with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Only five species' clusters form the core of honey bees' gut microbiome: Snodgrassella alvi, Gilliamella apicola, Lactobacillus Firm-4, Lactobacillus Firm-5, Bifidobacterium asteroides. Less numerous groups are: Frischella perrara, Bartonella apis, Bombella apis and Commensalibacter sp.

Most insect bites or stings will not need antibiotics. First-choice antibiotic is flucloxacillin. Alternative first-choice antibiotics for penicillin allergy or if flucloxacillin is unsuitable are clarithromycin, erythromycin, doxycycline.