The process of successful wound healing depends on effective debridement and infection control. One method of wound debridement, known since antiquity, is based on the use of fly larvae. Solid scientific evidence proves that maggot debridement therapy (MDT), like surgical intervention, can be effectively and safely used to remove necrotic tissue. Based on a review of the related literature, this study was designed to assess the effectiveness of chronic wound cleansing with the use of larvae of Lucilia sericata (Phaenicia sericata). Maggot therapy, applied in wound debridement and treatment, is a safe and effective method. Its benefits are associated with debridement, disinfection and faster tissue growth. MDT may reduce the duration of antibiotic therapy and the need for hospitalization, or it may decrease the number of outpatient visits required. It is a relatively cost-effective method, and, in addition to financial gains, it may reduce the frequency of inpatient treatment. In the literature, an increasing amount of scientific evidence confirms that such treatment can effectively reduce the biofilm and bacterial load in a wound.
Keywords: Lucilia sericata; Phaenicia sericata; chronic wounds; wound debridement.