Author: Jared Scott, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Interest started as it was noticed soldiers who had wounds infected with maggots had better outcomes than those without maggots
• Studies have shown that wound care with maggots is essentially equivalent to traditional therapy with oxygen, antibiotics, and debridement
• Maggots debride the wound with proteolytic enzymes, sterilize the wound, and stimulate wound healing

References:

Sherman RA. Maggot therapy takes us back to the future of wound care: new and improved maggot therapy for the 21st century. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2009 Mar 1;3(2):336-44. Review. PubMed PMID: 20144365; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2771513.

Baer WS. The treatment of chronic osteomyelitis with the maggot (larva of the blow fly) J Bone & Joint Surg. 1931;13:438–475. DOI: 10.1007/s11999-010-1416-3

Summary by Travis Barlock, MS4 | Edited by Erik Verzemnieks, MD