Abstract

PERCEPTION AND PROGRESS OF MAGGOT THERAPY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY IN MOROCCO

M. R. Sefrioui*, S. Ibnourras, M. Boui, S. Elhamzaoui, Y. Cherrah and S. Derraji

Abstract

Introduction: The use of antibiotics after the Second World War was a significant medical event because of the high healing potential of bacterial infections. However, infections due to multi-drug resistant bacteria are increasing worldwide and have become a major public health problem. This urges us to look for alternative methods such as maggot therapy, which has been proven to have incredible effectiveness in the management of several pathologies such as diabetic foot and infections due to multi-drug resistant bacteria. However, the introduction of Maggot therapy into the therapeutic arsenal requires a perception study among physician prescribers and patients. Therefore, the aim of our study is to understand the place of the maggot therapy in the current stake of fight against the multi-resistant infections and to study its perception among Moroccan physician prescribers and patients. Subjects and Methods: A prospective study was carried out, covering a 5 month period, from 10 July 2017 to 13 December 2017. It focused on 321 patients suffering from different injuries and 103 physician prescribers interviewed in various hospital settings from three regions in Morocco. The results were exploited using computer software, survey and statistical data analysis, the Sphinx plus V.5. Results: Only 25% of the 301 interviewed physician prescribers were aware of the maggot therapy during the study period. After outlining the benefits of larval treatment, 95% of them agree to handle and even use, it in many cases, as an alternative to conventional treatments. Moreover, we also noted that 66.5% of the 321 interviewed patients accepted treatment with maggot therapy. The young and male population is the most courageous for this type of treatment with a sex ratio of 2.19. Conclusions: The maggot therapy is an old technique that has proven its effectiveness in the management of several pathologies, particularly the diabetic foot and infections due to multi-drug resistant bacteria. Nowadays, this technique is starting to be reintegrated in several countries. The study of the perception of the maggot therapy is an urge to improve its progress among the therapeutic arsenal in the world and in Morocco as well.

Keywords: Maggot therapy - Lucilia sericata - Bacterial resistance.