How to bag your maggots, when necessary.

What is it about?

Maggot therapy efficiently and effectively dissolves necrotic (dead, gangrenous) tissue and cleans wounds. The maggots are usually confined to the wound by a breathable net dressing. Sometimes it is necessary or preferred to keep the maggots completely contained within the net (bag) dressing. In some regions of the world, medicinal maggots are supplied in sealed, but in other regions, contained (bagged) maggots are not available because of expense, technical limitations, or supplier limitations. This publication reports the results of testing a variety of methods to easily and inexpensively seal maggots within net bags, when necessary or desired.

Featured Image

Photo by Emma Leigh on Unsplash

Photo by Emma Leigh on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Sometimes the location of a wound makes it impossible to create a barrier around the maggots, so medicinal maggots can only be used if they are contained within a sealed bag, in order to prevent escape. Sometimes doctors or patients will not accept unrestrained maggots. By demonstrating simple and low-cost methods to seal medicinal maggots within such net bags, anyone can now access contained medicinal maggots even if there is no established supplier in the area.

Perspectives

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The authors, unable to purchase medicinal maggots contained in bags, tested a variety of self-made net bags. They provide instructions so that readers can also produce their own bags, if they can not purchase medicinal maggots prepackaged within net bags.

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