Flap infection associated with medicinal leeches in reconstructive surgery: two new drug-resistant organisms

The use of medicinal leeches in reconstructive surgery has proven value for the salvage of flaps with venous congestion but is associated with a risk of leech-acquired infection. The most common leech-associated organism is Aeromonas hydrophila, which antibiotic prophylaxis is typically directed against. The authors describe two new multidrug-resistant organisms acquired from medicinal leech therapy that resulted in flap infection. The evaluation of suspected leech-borne infection and management protocol for this leech-acquired resistant multi-organism infection is presented.

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

This report identifies two previously unreported multidrug-resistant bacterial organisms transmitted through medicinal leech therapy that caused flap infection, and presents an approach for evaluating and managing this type of drug-resistant, leech-acquired infection in reconstructive surgery patients.

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