Abstract
Maggots certainly have an image problem, but this humble
insect—the immature stage of a housefly or blowfly—has
much to offer the field of medicine in the 21st century.
Maggots of certain fly species feed on necrotic flesh, and
through this debriding activity can assist the healing of
chronic soft-tissue wounds (such as pressure and venous
stasis ulcers, diabetic foot infections, and postoperative
wounds) that are resistant to surgical or antibiotic
intervention. This article describes Maggot
Debridement Therapy (MDT), an old remedy that has been
revised and is now proven to be valuable for treating
wounds unresponsive to conventional wound
management.
