When antibiotics fail, the larvae can intervene to heal wounds
Although the modern medical world seems inconceivable, bandages with a species of fly larvae have been used since ancient times for a quick healing of wounds.
Until a few years ago this therapy has been completely ignored, but the evolution of germs that have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics has made Western doctors to resort to using larvae in the treatment of persistent wounds and ulcers.
Studies in patients who were treated in this way demonstrates that larval therapy is highly effective in more than 80 percent of the necrotic tissue was removed. One of the major advantages of this therapy is that the larvae removes necrotic tissue without interfering with the healthy cells.
Among the beneficiaries of this therapy is particularly high in diabetic patients who have difficulty in healing ulcers and for which, in some cases, this treatment proved to be a viable alternative.
Doctors who used this treatment have concluded that it is effective in treating several types of wounds, it is easy to use and well tolerated by patients and no side effects.
An ancient practice, forgotten along with the discovery of antibiotics
This therapeutic practice has gained popularity and was quite widespread before the 1940s, when antibiotics were discovered. Evidence of healing by applying bandages larvae is mentioned in very old historical sources, the Mayan civilization up to the tribes of Australia.
One of the oldest writings in which he described the practice seems belongs Ambroise, who served as surgeon of the kings of France in the sixteenth century. As a doctor, he noticed the front larvae on the wounds that this patient has a beneficial effect on their evolution.
Later, Baron D.J. Larrey, physician to the front in the armies of Napoleon, noted that the larvae do not attack healthy tissue, but only at necrotic, helping to heal. In America, during the War of Secession, Dr. JF Zacharias and his colleague Joseph Jones have used this type of treatment to clean the wounds of soldiers, and Zacharias noted that in this way managed to save many lives.
The first scientific studies on this subject have been developed by WAS Baer, after the First World War. In the years 1920-1930, Baer has successfully used maggots to treat cases of osteomyelitis and ulceration of the feet appeared, and this type of therapy has been used extensively in the United States and Canada. This type of therapy has been used successfully in the treatment of malignant breast ulcers, some of burns, abscesses and even carcinomas.
The discovery of penicillin and sulphonamides in 1940, has made this practice be abandoned. Nowadays, thanks to widespread use of antibiotics than Action spectrum, many bacteria have become resistant to treatment with antibiotics, and medicine has rediscovered the benefits of this therapy.
Secretions that they leave behind their larvae help remove dead cells and the formation of healthy ones.
Not all types of larvae can be used
Not all the larvae of flies can be used, but only those that do not attack healthy tissue, remove parts of necrotic wounds. Most commonly used are the family Calliphoridae larvae, which are grown in sterile environments or are sterilized before being applied on wounds.
Patches of larvae are easily tolerated and quite easy to perform, but some precautions are necessary because larvae do not migrate from the wound. Such a dressing must be kept for three days after it is removed and cleaned the wound with sterile solution.
This type of treatment can be used together with antibiotics, although larvae removes bacteria from wounds using proteolytic enzymes they secrete. Larval secretions act on wound bacteria, pH modifying wound and promote healing. It is assumed that the movement of larvae inside the dressing should stimulate healthy tissue. The advantages of this therapy include abscesses and necrotizing specific odor and loss, in most cases.
Diabetics can benefit from this treatment and they
Among the most striking cases include the healing of diabetic patients avoid amputation of States often after therapy with larvae.
Because of the advanced state of diabetes, often develop ulcers in the legs especially. These forces are difficult to heal wounds and because of its occurring, but also because of the general diabetic condition. In some cases of limb amputations were avoided by applying dressings and larvae that did their duty and necrotic tissue were removed and stimulated the creation of healthy tissue
