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Healthcare-Associated Myiasis: Prevention and Intervention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Ronald A. Sherman ,
Gary Roselle ,
Carol Bills ,
Linda H. Danko  and
Noel Eldridge
Ronald A. Sherman*
Affiliation:
University of California, Irvine, Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California
Gary Roselle
Affiliation:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Infectious Diseases Program Office, Washington, DC Medical Service, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
Carol Bills
Affiliation:
VA Midwest Healthcare Network, Network 23, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Linda H. Danko
Affiliation:
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Infectious Diseases Program Office, Washington, DC
Noel Eldridge
Affiliation:
Veterans Health Administration, National Center for Patient Safety, Ann Arbor, Michigan
*
Department of Pathology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4800RSherman@uci.edu
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Abstract

Healthcare-associated myiasis (maggot infestation) can have complications that go well beyond the medical consequences of the infestation for patients, their families, and facilities. Prevention of healthcare-associated myiasis requires effort on two fronts: minimizing patient risk factors and reducing fly populations in the healthcare environment. If myiasis occurs, intervention must be swift, thorough, and interdisciplinary. The first priority always is the well-being of the patient. Preservation and identification of the maggots can help determine the likely timing and circumstances that led to the infestation. Conditions favoring the infestation must be identified and then corrected. Free and rapid communication must be promoted. A single designated knowledgeable spokesperson to communicate with the patient, employees, and, as needed, the media will reduce mis-communication and hasten mitigation. Following the guidelines presented in this document, healthcare facilities should be able to reduce the likelihood of healthcare-associated myiasis and effectively intervene when such events occur.

Type
Review
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 26 , Issue 10 , October 2005 , pp. 828 - 832
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2005

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