Acute postoperative infection with Aeromonas hydrophila after using medical leeches for treatment of venous congestion

INTRODUCTION: Venous convulsion after reconstructive microsurgery procedures is one major complication a surgeon has to deal with. Today, especially in the field of reconstructive microsurgery, medicinal leech therapy enjoys a renaissance. The potential risks such as infections associated with leech therapy are generally underestimated and not sufficiently discussed in literature. METHOD/PATIENTS: We present five male patients with an average age of 47 years. All patients suffered from a trauma incident, which had to be treated as an emergency. Three patients showed, postoperatively, a venous congestion after the reconstructive procedures. Another two patients with flap reconstruction and flap training developed venous problems after 12 and 14 days. In all five cases, the indication was given to use medical leeches (Hirudo medicinalis). In all the patients, a local infection of the injured extremity could be regarded after beginning with the leech treatment. The treatment duration with medical leeches for postoperative venous congestion was an average of 6 days. RESULTS: The reconstructive procedures in all five cases were unfortunately unsuccessful as major local infections were observed. Microbiological analyses showed, in all cases, an infection with Aeromonas hydrophila. CONCLUSION: We recommend making a considered indication for leech therapy, to diagnose wound infections early and to think about prophylactic antibiotics in patients with leech application.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Five patients receiving leech therapy after reconstructive microsurgery developed Aeromonas hydrophila infections leading to flap failure, underscoring the importance of antibiotic prophylaxis and early infection diagnosis.

Erfahren Sie, wie diese Forschung mit der klinischen Praxis verknüpft ist

More peer-reviewed studies in Sicherheit & Infektionskontrolle.

• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Improvement of patient care through hirudotherapy and the management of leeches from their reception to their disposal in France — Vaesken C et al. (2023)
• Hirudotherapy in Medicine and Dentistry — Jha K et al. (2015)
• Management of Chronic Non-healing Wounds by Hirudotherapy — Iqbal A et al. (2017)
• Hirudotherapy attenuates arthritic pain in patients with various chronic pain syndromes: A retrospective analysis — Loeser J et al. (2020)
• Hirudotherapy (medicinal leeches) for treatment of upper airway obstruction in a dog — Trenholme H, Masseau I, Reinero C (2021)
• Analysis of antibiotic resistant infections associated with hirudotherapy — Brauer P et al. (2024)
• Leech Me Alone! Atraumatic Hemarthrosis after Hirudotherapy — Curcio J, Lloyd C (2020)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →