Podcast # 392: Maggot Therapy

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