Infection risk related to the use of medicinal leeches
Research article published in Pharmacy world & science : PWS (2007)
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of postoperative wound infections related to treatment with medicinal leeches at Ghent University Hospital. METHOD: A 2-year retrospective analysis of bacteriologic culture results of soft tissue infections in patients treated with medicinal leeches. RESULTS: Cultures of suspected wound infections were taken and susceptibility testing of isolates was performed on 17 of 47 patients (36.2%). Aeromonas was frequently isolated (18.5%). CONCLUSIONS: A high incidence of infection during and after application of medicinal leeches, despite their external decontamination, necessitates an antibiotic prophylaxis. In particular Aeromonas must be covered, as soft tissue infections with these bacteria can give serious complications. The prophylactic antibiotic should cover the most frequent isolated species taking into account the importance of Aeromonas and the susceptibility pattern. Based on the results, fluoroquinolones seem to be a good choice. The authors believe that practical recommendations to hospital pharmacists on prophylaxis during Hirudo medicinalis treatment, might enhance the safety of it's use by reducing the number of infections.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Summary
Peer-reviewed research on safety and infection-control considerations relevant to leech therapy and anticoagulation. Indexed in PubMed and verified against the NCBI record.
Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy
The study conducted a 2-year retrospective analysis of bacteriologic culture results at Ghent University Hospital to assess postoperative wound infections related to medicinal leech therapy. Among 47 leech-treated patients, cultures of suspected wound infections were obtained from 17 (36.2%), with Aeromonas frequently isolated (18.5%). This work is directly relevant to hirudotherapy safety, as Aeromonas infections associated with Hirudo medicinalis use can cause serious complications and the authors conclude that antibiotic prophylaxis—specifically fluoroquinolones—is necessary to cover the most common isolates. A limitation is that this is a single-center retrospective review, and the abstract does not clearly specify the overall infection incidence among all 47 leech-treated patients, limiting broader conclusions about infection risk.
Citation
Infection risk related to the use of medicinal leeches.
Bauters et al. · Pharmacy world & science : PWS, 2007
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