Assessment of Antimicrobial Properties of Maggots

Chronic bacterial colonization or infection of the wound is one of the major factors interfering proper wound healing, especially in diabetic foot ulcers. Certain fly larvae can infest corpses or the wounds of live hosts. Those which are least invasive on live hosts have been used therapeutically, to remove dead tissue from wounds, and promote healing. With the introduction of other debridement agents and antibiotics, maggot therapy fell out of favor, however, medicinal use of the maggots is recently increasing around the world, due to its efficacy, safety, and simplicity. The maggot therapy has been used for debridement of necrotic tissues, however, no formal experimental studies were conducted for potential antimicrobial properties. This a prospective randomized experimental study that assesses the potential antimicrobial properties of maggots in vitro.