Maggot Therapy: The Science and Implication for CAM Part II—Maggots Combat Infection
Open Access
- 1 January 2006
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Vol. 3 (3), 303-308
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nel022
Abstract
Maggot therapy employs the use of freshly emerged, sterile larvae of the common green-bottle fly,Phaenicia(Lucilia)sericata, and is a form of artificially induced myiasis in a controlled clinical situation. Maggot therapy has the following three core beneficial effects on a wound: debridement, disinfection and enhanced healing. In part II of this review article, we discuss clinical infections and the evidence supporting the potent antibacterial action of maggot secretions. Enhancement of wound healing by maggots is discussed along with the future of this highly successful, often controversial, alternative treatment.Keywords
Funding Information
- Action Medical Research (AP1010)
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