For years, maggots have been a powerful tool in medicine, quietly excelling in the treatment of chronic wounds. But despite the clinical evidence supporting their efficacy, maggots remain an underused treatment. This isn’t due to a lack of effectiveness but rather our own innate negative perceptions.
Approved for use in the NHS, maggot therapy relies on the willingness of both the wound clinician and the patient. But our revulsion of these insects often hampers their widespread acceptance and use. And because of this, maggots are not yet universally embraced by society nor by all health professionals.
In wound care, maggots act like miniature medical devices. They are particularly efficient at cleaning wounds, removing dead tissue almost immediately. Their ability to destroy harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, is very impressive.
Maggots can even break down bacterial biofilms – tough, pathogen-rich barriers that thrive in chronic wounds. And they can also stimulate the arrival of healthy cells and molecules, promoting healing. Recent discoveries have shed further light on the remarkable abilities of maggots.
We now know they can produce 47 different antimicrobial peptides. These small, bacteria-killing molecules can be ramped up significantly in response to infection, demonstrating the maggots’ dynamic response to different types of wound conditions. But maggot therapy isn’t without its challenges.
Some patients can experience psychological disco.