Antimicrobial prophylaxis during Hirudo medicinalis therapy: a multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Reconstructive surgery
• Infectious disease
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are crucial for salvaging tissue flaps, grafts, or replants facing venous congestion.
• Assessing the role of prophylactic antimicrobials is vital to prevent complications in leech therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antimicrobial agents in patients undergoing medicinal leech therapy.
• To identify common pathogens and their resistance patterns in leech-associated infections.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted.
• Data from adult patients receiving medicinal leech therapy between January 1, 2010, and February 28, 2013, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Antimicrobial prophylaxis was administered to 91.5% of patients.
• Surgical site infections (SSI) occurred in 11.9% of patients, all of whom received prophylaxis.
• Aeromonas spp. caused four infections, with isolates resistant to the prophylactic agents.

Conclusions:

• Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin demonstrated equal effectiveness in preventing leech-associated infections.
• The choice of prophylactic agent did not significantly alter SSI incidence.