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%. Bacterial cultures may show a wide variety of organisms, but Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes) is the causative agent in up to 71% of all human cases. The treatment consists of urgent radical surgical debridement in combination with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. 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.