Defensins of Lucilia sericata Larvae and Their Influence on Wound Repair Processes in Practical Assessment—A Study of Three Cases

Dariusz Bazaliński, Joanna Przybek-Mita, Katarzyna Lisowicz, Mateusz Skórka and Paweł Więch ()
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Dariusz Bazaliński: Father B. Markiewicz Podkarpackie Specialist Oncology Centre, Specialist Hospital in Brzozów, 36-200 Brzozów, Poland
Joanna Przybek-Mita: Department of Medical Rescue, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
Katarzyna Lisowicz: Department of Nursing, Institute of Health and Economy, Carpathian State University in Krosno, 38-400 Krosno, Poland
Mateusz Skórka: St Hedvig Clinical Provincial Hospital No. 2 in Rzeszów, 35-301 Rzeszów, Poland
Paweł Więch: Department of Nursing and Public Health, Institute of Health Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Rzeszów, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 7, 1-13

Abstract: Bacteria inhabiting chronic wounds form a biofilm that prolongs and slows down the healing process. Increasingly common antibiotic resistance requires clinicians to search for effective and alternative treatment methods. Defensins are the most common antimicrobial peptides capable of eradicating pathogens. Their discovery in maggot secretions allowed for a broader understanding of the healing mechanisms, and approving the use of Lucilia sericata fly larvae in the treatment of infected wounds resulted in an effective and safe procedure. The aim of the study was to present the possibility of biofilm elimination in a chronic wound by means of medical maggots ( Lucilia sericata ) with the example of three selected clinical cases. The observation included three women who met the inclusion criterion of having venous insufficiency ulcers with inhibited regeneration processes. Medical maggots were applied in a biobag for three days, and observation was conducted for 21 consecutive days. In 2 cases, a significant elimination of necrotic tissue from the wound bed with local granulation tissue was observed 72 h after application of a larvae colony on the wounds. In 1 case, the application of the larvae accelerated the repair process by reducing the wound area by approximately 40% at the time of observation. The formation of biofilm in a chronic wound is one of the main causes of disturbances in its effective healing. Combining procedures (scraping, antiseptic compresses, MDT, NPWT) related to wound debridement increases the effectiveness of biofilm elimination. The use of medical maggots is a safe and effective method of choice, and it enhances the processes of debridement. However, confirmed indisputable data on their effectiveness and frequency of use in the process of stimulating healing processes are still not available in the literature.

Keywords: biofilm; Lucilia sericata; defensins; debridement; chronic wound; MDT (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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