Use of maggot therapy for treating a diabetic foot ulcer colonized by multidrug resistant bacteria in Brazil

Abstract

This study reports the efficacy of maggot therapy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer infected with multidrug resistant microorganisms. A 74 year old female patient with diabetes for over 30 years, was treated with maggot therapy using larvae of Chrysomya megacephala . The microbiological samples were collected to evaluate aetiology of the infection. The therapy done for 43 days resulted in a reduction of necrosis and the ulcer’s retraction of 0.7 cm 2 in area. Analysis of the bacteriological swabs revealed the presence of Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumonia e and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Further studies need to be done to confirm the role of maggot therapy in wound healing using a large sample and a proper study design.