Larval Therapy for Treatment of Chronic Wounds Colonized by Multi-resistant Pathogens in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Study

Chronic wounds are susceptible to colonization with gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that may be resistant to antimicrobial dressings and systemic antibiotics. In January 2004, the US Food and Drugs Administration approved use of medicinal larvae for use in humans and animals for resistant organisms. Despite use in adults, there is a paucity of evidence evaluating its efficacy and safety in the pediatric population.

Case: T was a 5-year-old boy with several chronic wounds infected with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The wounds were originally treated with chemical debridement, dressings containing ionic silver, negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), and antibiotics without success. Consequently, a multidisciplinary team implemented maggot debridement therapy (MDT).

Conclusions: After MDT, one wound completely epithelialized and the other wounds achieved a reduction in size with 70% epithelization. Therapy also led to a reduction in wound odor, exudate, and pain. The other wounds were closed after additional management with dressing containing nanocrystalline silver and NPWT.

-Participation (online) and conference presentation at the 5th Congress on advanced wound, burns, diabetic foot and stoma management organised by (MACHEJ) Manejo de Heridas Jalisco in Sinaloa, Mexico. 31 August – 3 September

-Participation and presentation (live) of conference and different congress activities as a board member at the Congress of the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP) in  Prague, Czech Republic. 14-16 September

-Participation and presentation (live) of different lectures representing the GNEAUPP at the congress of the Mexican Association of Wound Healing (AMCICHAC) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, 21-24 September.

-Participation (online) at the Ateneo on paediatric wounds of the Asociación Argentina de Cicatrización de Heridas (AIACH), 2 October.