A review of maggot debridement therapy to treat chronic wounds.

This literature review aims to clarify whether using maggot debridement therapy (MDT) for the removal of devitalized and infected tissue in chronic wounds is a valuable tool for healing. To undertake a literature review, the British Nursing Index, Ovid-Medline and the CINAHL databases were searched from January 1960 to June 2010 using the following terms: maggot debridement therapy, chronic wounds, granulation, infection, and cost-effective. The evidence suggests that MDT is more effective than other methods of debridement for wound bed preparation, although it has not been proven to eliminate problems associated with recurrent infections. This therapy has also not been proven to accelerate the healing process; however, more research needs to be undertaken into this and the cost-effectiveness of treatment.