DOCSLIB.ORG

Bugs As Drugs, Part 1: Insects. the “New” Alternative Medicine for the 21St Century? E

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Bugs As Drugs, Part 1: Insects. the “New” Alternative Medicine for the 21St Century? E amr Review Article Bugs as Drugs, Part 1: Insects. The “New” Alternative Medicine for the 21st Century? E. Paul Cherniack, MD Abstract estimates that $20 billion will be needed to replace Insects and insect-derived products have been widely used in the shortage of 800,000 conventional health care folk healing in many parts of the world since ancient times. workers by 2015.1 Globally ubiquitous, arthropods Promising treatments have at least preliminarily been studied potentially provide a cheap, plentiful supply of experimentally. Maggots and honey have been used to heal healing substances in an economically challenged chronic and post-surgical wounds and have been shown to be world. comparable to conventional dressings in numerous settings. Honey has also been applied to treat burns. Honey has been Maggots combined with beeswax in the care of several dermatologic The most well-studied medical application of disorders, including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, tinea, arthropods is the use of maggots – the larvae of pityriasis versicolor, and diaper dermatitis. Royal jelly has flies (most frequently that of Lucilia sericata, a been used to treat postmenopausal symptoms. Bee and ant blowfly) that feed on necrotic tissue.2 Traditional venom have reduced the number of swollen joints in patients healers from many parts of the world including with rheumatoid arthritis. Propolis, a hive sealant made by Asia, South America, and Australia have used bees, has been utilized to cure aphthous stomatitis. “larval therapy,”3 and records of physician use of Cantharidin, a derivative of the bodies of blister beetles, has maggots to heal wounds have existed since the been applied to treat warts and molluscum contagiosum. Middle Ages.3 Figure 1 depicts maggots on a wound. Combining insects with conventional treatments may provide Fly larvae aid in wound healing via a number of further benefit. mechanisms: (1) larval secretions break the larger (Altern Med Rev 2010;15(2):124-135) adhesion molecules, fibronectin and collagen, into smaller fragments that promote fibroblast aggrega- tion and tissue repair;4 (2) larvae eat necrotic tissue E. Paul Cherniack, MD – The Introduction: Why Insects? that would otherwise form a nidus for infection, Geriatrics Institute, University Insects and other arthropods provide ingredi- liquefying such tissue and aiding its digestion;4 (3) of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Division of ents that have been a staple of traditional medicine maggots release antibacterial substances, some of Geriatrics and Gerontology, and for centuries in parts of East Asia, Africa, and which are produced by Proteus mirabilis bacteria the Geriatrics and Extended South America. While many of these ingredients that live naturally in the larval intestine; and (4) Care Service and Geriatric 3 Research Education, and have not been evaluated experimentally, an ingested bacteria are destroyed within maggots. Clinical Center (GRECC) of increasing number have been shown in preliminary Maggots commercially grown under sterile the Miami Veterans Affairs trials to have beneficial properties. Although conditions are used in wound healing. In one Medical Center Correspondence address: medical practitioners in more economically robust application technique, a hole is cut in a hydrocol- Miami VA Medical Center, countries may prefer conventional treatments, it loid dressing over a wound.3 The maggots are lifted Room 1D200, 1201 NW 16th may be more a result of squeamishness rather than out of a container on a piece of nylon netting, Street, Miami, FL 33125 Email: evan.cherniack@ science. Furthermore, in parts of the world where which is folded together and taped onto the va.gov conventional medical care is scarcer than arthro- dressing over the hole after removal of the mois- pods used by folk healers, insects may represent a ture in the maggot growth medium. A piece of feasible substitute in some cases. In sub-Saharan gauze is placed over the nylon and taped in place.3 Africa alone, the World Health Organization Volume 15, Number 2 Alternative Medicine Review 124 Copyright © 2010 Alternative Medicine Review, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No Reprint Without Written Permission. Review Article amr Key words: maggots, honey, Larval therapy has also been evaluated in wounds, surgery, burns, bee, propolis, cantharidin, Figure 1. Maggots on a Wound controlled trials. In a randomized trial, 267 molluscum, ant, beetle, subjects with venous or arterial ulcers at least pityriasis, royal jelly, ulcers, 25-percent covered with necrotic material were larva, tinea assigned to receive maggots or a conventional hydrogel dressing.11 Although there was no difference in rate or timing of healing between groups, the maggot-treated wounds were debrided significantly faster (2.31 days; p<0.001). On the other hand, subjects treated with maggots had a significantly higher pain score (approximately 40 points higher on a 150-point analog scale; p<0001). In another trial involving diabetic leg ulcers, non-healing wounds were treated with either maggots, a conventional hydrogel, or the conven- tional therapy followed by larval treatment.12 In one study, maggots were grown in vitro and Wounds treated with maggots had significantly less placed in the wounds of 30 individuals after necrotic tissue after two weeks. Thus, there is bacterial swabs of the wounds were taken.5 The limited evidence that larval therapy can provide patients had arterial or venous stasis ulcers, wound healing for lower extremity ulcers compa- diabetic or pressure ulcers, or chronic postopera- rable to conventional treatment. A systematic tive wounds. Secretions taken either from maggots review concluded that, in appropriate patients, use grown on sterile plates or from wound sites may be safe and effective.13 Maggots may be sampled from 1-5 days after the introduction of appropriate especially when conventional therapies larvae were studied for antibacterial properties. cannot be used, or in parts of the world where Larval secretions successfully suppressed larvae are more easily obtainable than conven- Staphylococcus aureus growth in vitro. In vivo, 51 tional treatment. wounds (83.2%) healed, with reduced bacterial counts within the wounds. Honey Treatment Maggots were also used to treat chronic leg Honey is another insect-derived substance that wounds in several patient series. In one case series has been used in wound healing and for treatment involving 34 leg wounds of at least three months of other disorders, such as infections and irritable duration in subjects ages 32-84, 85 percent of the bowel syndrome. Therapeutic effects of honey have wounds healed.6 Of the healed wounds, 93 percent been documented from ancient times and it is still resolved within 7-10 days. In a second series, 70 used in African folk medicine.14,15 Honey composi- patients, ages 25-94 with wounds of at least six tion varies widely throughout the world depending weeks duration, were given treatment with on the species of bee and plants the bees feed on, one-day-old larvae added at a concentration of both of which influence the honey’s antioxidant 5-10 larvae/cm2.2 Eighty-six percent of the subjects and antimicrobial properties.16-18 Four phenolic had a 66- to 100-percent reduction of wound size. compounds in honey – p-hydroxybenzoic acid, During treatment, 35 percent of subjects perceived naringenin, pinocembrin, and chrysin – are more pain, 25 percent less pain, and 46 percent no antimicrobials and antioxidants. The carbohydrate difference in pain. In a third case series, larval in honey is also antimicrobial.16,17 Honey also has therapy was applied to 70 chronic wounds; 43 antimutagenic properties.19 percent of the wounds were completely debrided, and 29 percent were partially debrided.7 There are Wound Healing also case reports of the successful use of maggots The best studied use of honey is for wound for treating the wound of a terminally ill patient8 healing. Honey promotes wound healing through and for non-healing venous ulcers.9 osmotic properties that serve to moisturize the One study examined the factors that predict wound bed and reduce the risk of maceration. It better outcomes of larval therapy in a series of 117 also works via anti-inflammatory processes that wounds. Greater wound depth, older patient age, reduce exudate and inhibit fibrin that adheres and presence of septic arthritis portended a worse eschar to the wound bed, impairing tissue repair.20 outcome.10 125 Alternative Medicine Review Volume 15, Number 2 Copyright © 2010 Alternative Medicine Review, LLC. All Rights Reserved. No Reprint Without Written Permission. amr Review Article Honey has been used to heal wounds in numer- Burns ous situations. Many studies have found dressings Several studies, most conducted by the same that contain honey comparable to conventional investigator, have examined the use of honey in the dressings. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo- treatment of burns. In one randomized, controlled controlled trial, 100 patients who had toenail trial, 104 subjects with burns covering 5-40 percent surgery were assigned to receive either a honey- of their bodies were divided into two groups. One had coated dressing or a conventional paraffin dress- 15-30 mL undiluted honey applied to the burn, the ing.21 There was no significant difference between other received a conventional topical cream of silver groups in days taken to heal the wounds. sulfadiazine applied to gauze covering the burn.29 However, in a single-blind study (blind to the Subjects
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Recent Advances in Developing Insect Natural Products As Potential Modern Day Medicines
    Hindawi Publishing Corporation Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2014, Article ID 904958, 21 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/904958 Review Article Recent Advances in Developing Insect Natural Products as Potential Modern Day Medicines Norman Ratcliffe,1,2 Patricia Azambuja,3 and Cicero Brasileiro Mello1 1 Laboratorio´ de Biologia de Insetos, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi,´ RJ, Brazil 2 Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK 3 Laboratorio´ de Bioqu´ımica e Fisiologia de Insetos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundac¸ao˜ Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Correspondence should be addressed to Patricia Azambuja; [email protected] Received 1 December 2013; Accepted 28 January 2014; Published 6 May 2014 Academic Editor: Ronald Sherman Copyright © 2014 Norman Ratcliffe et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Except for honey as food, and silk for clothing and pollination of plants, people give little thought to the benefits of insects in their lives. This overview briefly describes significant recent advances in developing insect natural products as potential new medicinal drugs. This is an exciting and rapidly expanding new field since insects are hugely variable and have utilised an enormous range of natural products to survive environmental perturbations for 100s of millions of years. There is thus a treasure chest of untapped resources waiting to be discovered. Insects products, such as silk and honey, have already been utilised for thousands of years, and extracts of insects have been produced for use in Folk Medicine around the world, but only with the development of modern molecular and biochemical techniques has it become feasible to manipulate and bioengineer insect natural products into modern medicines.
    [Show full text]
  • Myiasis During Adventure Sports Race
    DISPATCHES reexamined 1 day later and was found to be largely healed; Myiasis during the forming scar remained somewhat tender and itchy for 2 months. The maggot was sent to the Finnish Museum of Adventure Natural History, Helsinki, Finland, and identified as a third-stage larva of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), Sports Race the New World screwworm fly. In addition to the New World screwworm fly, an important Old World species, Mikko Seppänen,* Anni Virolainen-Julkunen,*† Chrysoimya bezziana, is also found in tropical Africa and Iiro Kakko,‡ Pekka Vilkamaa,§ and Seppo Meri*† Asia. Travelers who have visited tropical areas may exhibit aggressive forms of obligatory myiases, in which the larvae Conclusions (maggots) invasively feed on living tissue. The risk of a Myiasis is the infestation of live humans and vertebrate traveler’s acquiring a screwworm infestation has been con- animals by fly larvae. These feed on a host’s dead or living sidered negligible, but with the increasing popularity of tissue and body fluids or on ingested food. In accidental or adventure sports and wildlife travel, this risk may need to facultative wound myiasis, the larvae feed on decaying tis- be reassessed. sue and do not generally invade the surrounding healthy tissue (1). Sterile facultative Lucilia larvae have even been used for wound debridement as “maggot therapy.” Myiasis Case Report is often perceived as harmless if no secondary infections In November 2001, a 41-year-old Finnish man, who are contracted. However, the obligatory myiases caused by was participating in an international adventure sports race more invasive species, like screwworms, may be fatal (2).
    [Show full text]
  • An Initial in Vitro Investigation Into the Potential Therapeutic Use of Lucilia Sericata Maggot to Control Superficial Fungal Infections
    Volume 6, Number 2, June .2013 ISSN 1995-6673 JJBS Pages 137 - 142 Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences An Initial In vitro Investigation into the Potential Therapeutic Use Of Lucilia sericata Maggot to Control Superficial Fungal Infections Sulaiman M. Alnaimat1,*, Milton Wainwright2 and Saleem H. Aladaileh 1 1 Biological Department, Al Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, P.O. Box 20, Jordan; 2 Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield,S10 2TN, UK Received: November 12, 2012; accepted January 12, 2013 Abstract In this work an attempt was performed to investigate the in vitro ability of Lucilia sericata maggots to control fungi involved in superficial fungal infections. A novel GFP-modified yeast culture to enable direct visualization of the ingestion of yeast cells by maggot larvae as a method of control was used. The obtained results showed that the GFP-modified yeasts were successfully ingested by Lucilia sericata maggots and 1mg/ml of Lucilia sericata maggots excretions/ secretions (ES) showed a considerable anti-fungal activity against the growth of Trichophyton terrestre mycelium, the radial growth inhibition after 10 days of incubation reached 41.2 ±1.8 % in relation to the control, these results could lead to the possible application of maggot therapy in the treatment of wounds undergoing fungal infection. Keywords: Lucilia sericata, Maggot Therapy, Superficial Fungal Infections And Trichophyton Terrestre. (Sherman et al., 2000), including diabetic foot ulcers 1. Introduction (Sherman, 2003), malignant adenocarcinoma (Sealby, 2004), and for venous stasis ulcers (Sherman, 2009); it is Biosurgical debridement or "maggot therapy" is also used to combat infection after breast-conservation defined as the use of live, sterile maggots of certain type surgery (Church 2005).
    [Show full text]
  • 210818 the Principles of Maggot Therapy and Its Role in Contemporary Wound Care
    Copyright EMAP Publishing 2021 This article is not for distribution except for journal club use Clinical Practice Keywords Maggot therapy/Wound care/Wound healing Review This article has been Wound care double-blind peer reviewed In this article... ● Evidence supporting maggot therapy in wound care ● Indications for use and how the process works ● Patient perception of the treatment The principles of maggot therapy and its role in contemporary wound care Key points Author Yamni Nigam is professor (anatomy and physiology), College of Human and Maggot therapy has Health Sciences, Swansea University. been available on NHS prescription Abstract Maggot therapy is becoming increasingly established as an option for the since 2004 debridement and treatment of sloughy, necrotic wounds. Although used tentatively NT SELF- over the previous few decades, it became more widespread following its availability ASSESSMENT Maggots are on NHS prescription in 2004. Since then, the scientific and clinical evidence for the Test your clinically effective efficacy of maggot therapy has mounted considerably, and it has been shown to be knowledge. for the debridement effective, not only for wound debridement but also in reducing the bacterial burden After reading this of sloughy, necrotic of a wound and accelerating wound healing. This article reviews current evidence, article go to chronic wounds and discusses the clinical indications for use, and the rearing and clinical application nursingtimes.net/ of maggots, as well as patient and health provider perceptions of maggot therapy. NTSAMaggots If you score 80% Secondary benefits or more, you will of maggot therapy Citation Nigam Y (2021) The principles of maggot therapy and its role in receive a certificate include reduction of contemporary wound care.
    [Show full text]
  • Antimicrobial Peptides Expressed in Medicinal Maggots of the Blow Fly Lucilia Sericata Show Combinatorial Activity Against Bacteria
    Antimicrobial Peptides Expressed in Medicinal Maggots of the Blow Fly Lucilia sericata Show Combinatorial Activity against Bacteria Anne-Kathrin Pöppel,a Heiko Vogel,b Jochen Wiesner,a Andreas Vilcinskasa,c Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Department of Bioresources, Giessen, Germanya; Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Jena, Germanyb; Institute of Phytopathology and Applied Zoology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germanyc The larvae of the common green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata) produce antibacterial secretions that have a therapeutic effect on chronic and nonhealing wounds. Recent developments in insect biotechnology have made it possible to use these larvae as a source of novel anti-infectives. Here, we report the application of next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to characterize the transcriptomes of the larval glands, crop, and gut, which contribute to the synthesis of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins secreted into wounds. Our data confirm that L. sericata larvae have adapted in order to colonize microbially contami- nated habitats, such as carrion and necrotic wounds, and are protected against infection by a diverse spectrum of AMPs. L. seri- cata AMPs include not only lucifensin and lucimycin but also novel attacins, cecropins, diptericins, proline-rich peptides, and sarcotoxins. We identified 47 genes encoding putative AMPs and produced 23 as synthetic analogs, among which some displayed activities against a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, and Enterococ- cus faecalis. Against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Micrococcus luteus (Gram positive), we found mostly additive effects but also synergistic activity when selected AMPs were tested in combination.
    [Show full text]
  • Insect-Based Medicines: a Review of Present Status and Prospects of Entomo-Therapeutic Resources for Human Ailment Denisha Rajkhowa*, Rokozeno, M.K
    International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Citation: IJAEB: 9(6): 1069-1079, December 2016 DOI: 10.5958/2230-732X.2016.00135.2 ©2016 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved ENTOMOLOGY Insect-Based Medicines: A Review of Present Status and Prospects of Entomo-Therapeutic Resources for Human Ailment Denisha Rajkhowa*, Rokozeno, M.K. Deka Department of Entomology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat- 785013, Assam, India *Corresponding author: [email protected] Paper No. 538 Received: 25 August 2015 Accepted: 24 December 2016 Abstract Insects and products derived from them have been consistently used as medicinal resources by human civilizations all over the world. The immunological, analgesic, antibacterial, diuretic, anesthetic and anti rheumatic property in the bodies of insects is now well recognized; however the immense scope for its exploration still remains untapped. The chemicals generated by insects for self defense can be used as medicinal drugs of enormous potentiality. Insects have long been utilized as significant dietary factor and remedy for illnesses in folk tradition. Such entomotherapeutic potential of insects can also make important contribution in conserving the biodiversity of insects. At present, insect based medicines are gradually on the rise and gaining popularity and relevance. Products based on insect-derived substances with conventional technologies will help in yielding further benefits. This review collates the most important works conducted on insects used for different
    [Show full text]
  • An Unusual Case of Vaginal Myiasis Hannah Soulsby,1† Brian L
    JMM Case Reports (2016) DOI 10.1099/jmmcr.0.005060 Case Report An unusual case of vaginal myiasis Hannah Soulsby,1† Brian L. Jones,2 Michael Coyne2 and Claire L. Alexander2† Correspondence 1Clinical Microbiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland Claire L. Alexander 2Scottish Parasite Diagnostic and Reference Laboratory, Glasgow, Scotland, UK [email protected] Introduction: Myiasis, a term used to describe the infestation of a live animal by fly larvae, is rarely reported in human subjects. The adult fly lays its eggs on living tissue that progresses to become larvae that feed on living tissue having gone through three developmental stages known as the first, second and third instar. The larvae become pupae before finally developing into adults. Case presentation: We describe an unusual case of a 79-year-old female who collapsed in her garden and lay there for several days before presenting to her local hospital Accident and Emergency department with an infestation of larvae in her vagina labia, identified as those from the Protophormia species northern blowfly. After complete removal of the larvae using tweezers followed by cleansing of the affected area and a course of antibiotics, the patient’s condition improved. A follow-up review by the local gynaecology team revealed no evidence of further infestation. Conclusion: It is our understanding that this is the first highly unusual case of a blowfly larvae Received 8 June 2016 infestation to be reported in a human within the UK. Accepted 5 July 2016 Keywords: Myiasis; vagina; larvae; blow fly. Introduction maggots invading exposed, often wounded tissue, and feed- ing off of blood from the host that may ultimately result in Insects of the order Dipteran account for one of the largest death through extensive tissue damage.
    [Show full text]
  • Antimicrobial Dressing for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Colonized with MRSA
    OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences Review Antimicrobial Dressing for Diabetic Foot Ulcer Colonized with MRSA Parthasarathy Ravichandran and Sai Prasad Chitti Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, India Article history Abstract: Wound healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcer differs Received: 24-05-2015 among people. The wound healing process was influenced by factors like Revised: 26-07-2015 nature of the wound, tissue and an immunity of a person. Any measure Accepted: 02-11-2015 taken to control bacterial colonies in wound plays a significant role in wound healing. However, recent emergence of Methicillin-resistant Corresponding Author: Parthasarathy Ravichandran Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) associated with chronic wounds created Department of Biochemistry health concerns worldwide. An MRSA colony present in diabetic wounds and Molecular Biology, vulnerable to prolong the wound healing has reported worldwide. Since Pondicherry University, MRSA are resistant to a wide range of antibiotics, choosing appropriate Pondicherry, India dressings to treat MRSA colonized wounds has become a challenge. Email: [email protected] Either synthetic or natural antimicrobial agents are used to develop dressings that combat against MRSA infections. In today’s practice, the incidence of chronic wounds and its associated socioeconomic consequences is rising despite effort and advances in wound management. In this review, an attempt made to summarize various antimicrobial dressings based on its activity against MRSA. Keywords: Wound, Honey, Silver, Antimicrobial, MRSA Introduction derivatives, including Methicillin are used for the treatments of infections caused by Staphylococcus The estimated prevalence of diabetes covers 382 aureus (Rayner and Munckhof, 2005). The misuse and million people (Tao et al ., 2015).
    [Show full text]
  • The Insect Economy
    THE INSECT ECONOMY FAKULTÄT II – INFORMATIK, WIRTSCHAFTS- UND RECHTSWISSENSCHAFTEN THE INSECT ECONOMY SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BASED ON INSECTS AS BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES DISSERTATION Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Title of Doktor der Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Dr. rer. pol.) Maria Real Perdomo th Born on 24 of March 1984 in Halle (Saale) BIOGRAPHY First Supervisor: Apl. Prof. Dr. Klaus Fichter Second Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Bernd Siebenhüner Place of Disputation: Oldenburg - Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg Disputation Date: 18.10.2018 I Maria Real Perdomo THE INSECT ECONOMY BIOGRAPHY Maria Real has a Bachelor in International Business and Intercultural Management (2009, Germany) and a Masters in Regional Planning and Environmental Manage- ment (2011, Spain). In 2013, she began working as scientific staff member at Heil- bronn University of Applied Sciences. The idea about writing about the Insect Econ- omy matured during the first conference about “Insects to Feed the World” in Wa- geningen 2014. During her research project, she participated in a number of confer- ences to present her ideas such as ISPIM in Hungary (2015) and Porto (2016), and the G-Form in Kassel (2015). At the G-Forum, the Hans Sauer Foundation awarded Prof. Klaus Fichter and her the Best Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research Award for their paper “Sustainable Business Opportunities in the Insect Economy”. Furthermore, to- gether with René Cerritos she published the article “Pre-Hispanic agriculture prac- tices: Using pest insects as an alternative source of protein” (DOI 10.2527/af.2015- 0017). Today, Maria is working as a business consultant in the area of innovation technology. II Maria Real Perdomo DANKSAGUNG (AKNOWLEDGEMENTS) DANKSAGUNG (AKNOWLEDGEMENTS) Meine besondere Anerkennung und Dank gilt meinem Doktorvater Professor Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Effectiveness of Chronic Wound Debridement with the Use of Larvae
    Journal of Clinical Medicine Review Effectiveness of Chronic Wound Debridement with the Use of Larvae of Lucilia Sericata Dariusz Bazali ´nski 1,2, Maria Kózka 3, Magdalena Karnas 4 and Paweł Wi˛ech 2,* 1 Father B. Markiewicz Podkarpackie Specialist Oncology Centre, Specialist Hospital in Brzozów, 36-200 Brzozów, Poland; [email protected] 2 Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences of the University of Rzeszów, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland 3 Department of Clinical Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, 31-501 Krakow, Poland; [email protected] 4 New Medical Technologies, Holy Family Specialist Hospital, 36-060 Rudna Mała, Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +48-667-192-696 Received: 8 October 2019; Accepted: 29 October 2019; Published: 2 November 2019 Abstract: The process of successful wound healing depends on effective debridement and infection control. One method of wound debridement, known since antiquity, is based on the use of fly larvae. Solid scientific evidence proves that maggot debridement therapy (MDT), like surgical intervention, can be effectively and safely used to remove necrotic tissue. Based on a review of the related literature, this study was designed to assess the effectiveness of chronic wound cleansing with the use of larvae of Lucilia sericata (Phaenicia sericata). Maggot therapy, applied in wound debridement and treatment, is a safe and effective method. Its benefits are associated with debridement, disinfection and faster tissue growth. MDT may reduce the duration of antibiotic therapy and the need for hospitalization, or it may decrease the number of outpatient visits required.
    [Show full text]
  • Maggot Debridement Therapy: from the Battlefields and Soldiers to Today’S Clinical Trials
    International Journal of Caring Sciences January-April 2021 Volume 14 | Issue 1| Page 787 Special Article Maggot Debridement Therapy: From the Battlefields and Soldiers to Today’s Clinical Trials Evangelia Meimeti, RN, MSc, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Pharmaceutical Technology- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Training Coordinator for the Nursing Specialty "Public Health / Community Nursing" in Central and Western Macedonia, 3rd Regional Health Authority of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece Elissavet Lykoudi, RN MS PhDc General Hospital of West Attica «Agia Varvara», Greece Evangelia Arapostathi, PhDc Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology & Entomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Antonios E. Tsagkarakis PhD Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology & Entomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece Niki Papavramidou, PhD Associate Professor, Medical History Museum, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Michail Rallis, PhD Department of Pharmaceutical Technology - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece Ioannis Galanis, MD, PhD 2nd Surgical Department, School of Medicine, "G. Gennimatas" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Correspondene: Evangelia Meimeti, RN, MSc, PhD Training Coordinator for the Nursing Specialty "Public Health / Community Nursing" in Central and Western Macedonia, 3rd Regional Health Authority of Macedonia, Mavili 11-Thessaloniki,Greece E-mail address: [email protected] Abstract Background: Although the advances in contemporary medicine have helped to improve the healthcare services, the wounds that do not heal remain a problem. Patients’ life expectancy has increased and many diseases are now considered chronic. Objective or Aims: The present historical study explores the important use of Maggot Debridement Therapy in clinical practice from antiquity to this day.
    [Show full text]
  • Maggot Debridement Therapy As Primary Tool to Treat Chronic Wound of Animals
    Veterinary World, EISSN: 2231-0916 REVIEW ARTICLE Available at www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.9/April-2016/12.pdf Open Access Maggot debridement therapy as primary tool to treat chronic wound of animals Vijayata Choudhary1, Mukesh Choudhary2, Sunanda Pandey2, Vandip D. Chauhan1 and J. J. Hasnani1 1. Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary College, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India; 2. Department of Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary College, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India. Corresponding author: Vijayata Choudhary, e-mail: [email protected], MC: [email protected], SP: [email protected], VDC: [email protected], JJH: [email protected] Received: 29-09-2015, Accepted: 12-03-2016, Published online: 25-04-2016 doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2016.403-409 How to cite this article: Choudhary V, Choudhary M, Pandey S, Chauhan VD, Hasnani JJ (2016) Maggot debridement therapy as primary tool to treat chronic wound of animals, Veterinary World, 9(4): 403-409. Abstract Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is a safe, effective, and controlled method of healing of chronic wounds by debridement and disinfection. In this therapy live, sterile maggots of green bottle fly, Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata are used, as they prefer necrotic tissues over healthy for feeding. Since centuries, MDT is used in human beings to treat chronic wounds. Lately, MDT came out as a potent medical aid in animals. In animals, although, this therapy is still limited and clinical studies are few. However, with the increasing antibiotic resistance and chronic wound infections in veterinary medicine, maggot therapy may even become the first line of treatment for some infections.
    [Show full text]