Leech related Aeromonas complex infection after reconstruction with a microvascular forearm flap

Medical leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) in plastic and reconstructive surgery are often used for the treatment of vascular failure after microvascular surgery. Leeches are a reservoir for bacteria of the Aeromonas group that help digesting the blood meal. In some cases these bacteria are able to cause severe wound infections that can lead to loss of tissue transplants. We report about a patient with a common microvascular forearm flap after resection of an oral squamous cell carcinoma which got infected by Aeromonas spp. after treatment with medical leeches. Most of these species are resistant for common antibiotic treatment after surgery. This report shows the importance of an early concomitant antibiotic prophylaxis in the treatment of venous congestion with medical leeches.

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

Patient with microvascular forearm flap after oral SCC resection developed Aeromonas spp infection resistant to common antibiotics after leech therapy.

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

More peer-reviewed studies in Seguridad y control de infecciones.

• 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)
• AIF-1 and RNASET2 Play Complementary Roles in the Innate Immune Response of Medicinal Leech — Baranzini N et al. (2019)
• [Hirudo medicinalis-leech applications in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery--a literature review] — Knobloch K et al. (2007)
• Bacterial symbioses of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana — Nelson M, Graf J (2012)
• Leech related Aeromonas complex infection after reconstruction with a microvascular forearm flap — Beger B, von Loewenich F, Goetze E, Moergel M, Walter C (2016)
• Aeromonas septicemia after medicinal leech use following replantation of severed digits — Levine SM, Frangos SG, Hanna B, Colen K, Levine JP (2009)
• Outcomes of flap salvage with medicinal leech therapy — Nguyen MQ et al. (2012)
• The role of leech water sampling in choice of prophylactic antibiotics in medical leech therapy — Wilmer A et al. (2013)
• The development and application of mini-barcodes from mitochondrial DNA for identifying medicinal leeches from traditional medicines — Liu Y et al. (2025)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →