A Case Report of the At-Home Application of Maggot in Treatment of Infected Wound in A Diabetic Patient

Abstract

Use of sterile maggot larvae in the removal of infected tissue has been practiced for centuries in different cultures. The practice was declined once antibiotics were introduced. Today, due to antibiotic resistant development or when conventional treatment is not possible, use of maggot therapy in management of infection in different conditions has been shown to be effective. Maggot therapy has been reported to be especially effective in treating diabetic wounds once it starts early in the process.Here, we are reporting a case study where maggot therapy was applied by a family member at home to an elderly patient when two months treatment of a wound in a diabetic foot with conventional antibiotics showed no improvement in progression of healing. However, addition of maggot therapy at home was effective in complete healing of the wound in three months. Our observations indicate a decrease in exudation and edema a week after the application of maggot therapy, significant improvement three weeks after, and a complete healing after three months of maggot therapy.Based on these observations we are concluding that maggot therapy can be safely applied by an untrained person at home setting. This is a low cost and convenient alternative to antibiotic treatment that can be used at home for treating diabetic wounds without the need of a professional.