Presurgical Maggot Debridement of Soft Tissue Wounds Is Associated with Decreased Rates of Postoperative Infection Ronald A. Sherman1,2 and Kathleen J. Shimoda3 1Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, and 2BioTherapeutics, Education, and Research Foundation, Irvine, and 3Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California Postoperative complications were assessed for all patients who received presurgical maggot debridement therapy (MDT) and for a matched group of patients who did not. Ten wounds were debrided by maggots within 117 days prior to surgical closure. Debridement was effective in all cases, and there were no postoperative wound infections. Six (32%) of 19 wounds not treated presurgically with MDT developed postoperative wound infections (95% CI, 10%54%; P < .05). Presurgical MDT was effective in preparing the wound bed for surgical closure, without increased risk of postsurgical wound infection. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2004;39:1067-1070 1058-4838/2004/3907-0028 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.