Maggot debridement therapy in necrotizing fasciitis reduces the number of surgical debridements

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but potentially lethal bacterial infection of the fascial and subcutaneous tissues. Mortality rates of this condition remain high, ranging from 6%-76%.(1) Bacterial cultures may show a wide variety of organisms(2), but Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) is the causative agent in up to 71% of all human cases.(3,4) The treatment consists of urgent radical surgical debridement in combination with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy.(5) Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. I The present study reports on the results of 15 patients with necrotizing fasciitis treated with surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy in combination with MDT from November 2001 to November 2005. A detailed case report of 1 patient is presented.