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.
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