What Is Maggot Therapy &
How Can it Help?

Maggots clean wounds naturally by eating away dead tissue, cellular fragments and fluids from the wound. They release proteolytic enzymes that help break down damaged tissue into a semi-liquid form, which they can then easily ingest.

Multiple scientific studies have shown that Maggot Therapy is more effective and efficient in removing dead tissue than conventional treatments [Sherman, 2003; Mumcuoglu et al., 1999].

Maggots do not digest living human tissue. Maggots heal wounds by feeding on dead tissue and other substances that hinder your wound from healing, such as bacteria. Maggots do all this without damaging viable tissue, meaning they don’t touch the healthy tissue that your body needs to heal.

This selective process is one of the major advantages of maggot therapy, as it spares the healthy tissues necessary for healing.

Some of the science behind it: The secretions of maggots can only break down the extracellular matrix of devitalised tissue, cellular debris and exudate presented in sloughy/necrotic wounds [Cazander et al., 2009]. These enzymes are unable to break down healthy tissue [Nigam et al., 2006].

Keeping bacteria under control is crucial for wound healing. Elevated levels of bacteria increase the risk of chronic wound infection and inhibit healing [Armstrong et al., 2023].

Maggots are like tiny clean-up crews. They eat up harmful microbes and help wounds heal faster. Using maggots in healing can reduce infections and keep patients infection-free for longer [Shi et al. 2014].

Studies have shown that maggot secretions can effectively destroy a broad range of bacteria [Jaklic et al., 2008; Daeschlein et al., 2007].

In addition, maggots elevate the pH in wounds, which inhibit bacterial growth [Parnés et al., 2007].

Biofilms can cause long-lasting inflammation and stop wounds from healing properly [Davies et al., 2008]. They do this by providing a cozy spot for bacteria to grow, forming communities that are hard to get rid of [Pritchard et al., 2015].

Maggot therapy is a great way to deal with these biofilms. It can both stop them from forming and get rid of them.

The enzymes present in maggot secretions prevent the formation of new biofilm and break down any bacterial biofilm present on the wound bed for ingestion by the maggots. These enzymes also inhibit the formation of new biofilm [Cazander et al., 2008].

Multiple studies have proven that wounds like diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers heal faster and better with Maggot Therapy than with other treatments.

For example, a 2014 study discovered that using maggots on diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers led to quicker healing and better growth of healing tissue compared to regular dressings [Sherman, 2014].

This is because Maggot Therapy facilitates cell movement to cover the wound and reduces inflammation in the wound. This sets the stage for the wound to move on to the next healing phase [Horobin et al., 2005].

Maggots can help patients avoid imminent amputations.

Maggot Therapy is associated with a threefold lower amputation rate [Sherman, 2014].

It has a 74% success rate in complex diabetic foot wounds that had previously failed all prior conventional wound care [Marineau et al., 2011] and a 90.9% limb salvage rate in a patient population in Singapore [Yeo et al., 2022].

Maggots serve as natural wound cleaners. Their consumption of necrotic tissue, which emits unpleasant odors, contributes significantly to odor reduction. In tandem, maggots' consumption of bacteria-rich material indirectly diminishes odor production. Moreover, the enzymatic secretions released during their feeding process work to neutralize odor-causing compounds.

Several clinical studies support these observations, noting a significant decrease in offensive odor accompanying wounds treated with maggots [Mumcuoglu, 2001]

Maggot Therapy is relatively safe with minimal side effects aside from slight discomfort and light bleeding [Yeo et al., 2022]. Application of MEDIFLY should take a similar amount of time as traditional wound dressings.

Maggot Therapy succeeds about 80% of the time in making wounds better and fully cleaning them in just one treatment. In comparison, conventional treatments only work for about 48% of patients [Gottrup et al., 2011].

Studies have demonstrated that Maggot Therapy is the most economical method for removing dead tissue from wounds. This is primarily because of its swiftness and high success rate in effectively removing debris, which leads to a reduced need for amputation, lower infection rates, fewer dressing changes, and reduced requirements for antibiotics and painkillers [Bennett et al., 2013].