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To the Editor: Dr Lyder¹ mentioned several adjunctive therapies for the treatment of pressure ulcers. However, he does not mention maggot debridement or larval therapy. This complementary therapy can be an inexpensive and effective treatment for pressure ulcers. A few recent studies have demonstrated that sterilized bottle fly maggots (Phaenicia sericata) can rapidly debride wounds^2-4 and accelerate healing compared with more conventional dressings or treatments.^3-4

Its aesthetic concerns aside, larval therapy is simple to use and does not require extensive medical training.⁵ Sterilized maggots can be obtained from several public institutions.^5-6 Dressings to contain the maggots in the wound can be easily constructed from readily available materials used in most hospitals.⁵ There are a few contraindications to larval therapy, such as avoiding its use in wounds involving vital organs or exposed blood vessels.⁶ Also, the potential for allergic reactions, such as rhinoconjunctivitis, angioedema, and contact dermatitis, exists in . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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