Since the beginning of human history, we have fought against diseases, particularly bacterial ones. Throughout history, millions of people have perished from infectious diseases such as the Black Plague, cholera, and typhus. People were defenseless against these deadly bacteria until 1928, when Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin. Since then, the potency of antibiotics has steadily increased, allowing them to neutralize a vastly increased number of bacterial infections. It appeared that humanity had won the war against bacterial diseases, but had we?

The main issue with antibiotic use is bacteria’s ability to develop resistance to them. Bacteria constantly shuffle their genes and evolve in order to become resistant to our new weapons, just as humans have consistently worked to develop new therapeutics.

With the emergence of “superbugs” like Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), it has become ever more difficult to treat infections with antibiotics. Some of these “superbugs” are untreatable, and the patient must suffer while hoping that his or her immune system will destroy the germs. Amidst this, the use of live maggots is undergoing a renaissance to combat the threat of antibiotic resistance.

The National Health Service (NHS) of the United Kingdom has been a pioneer in using maggots in this manner. Many people view maggots as repulsive, disgusting larvae associated with rotting waste. However, the NHS uses sterile maggots grown in certified laboratories for medical purposes. When placed on wounds, these maggots release digestive chemicals that break down dead tissue. In this process, maggots also consume bacteria, digesting the pathogens after ingestion. This procedure is extraordinarily efficient, and it frequently heals an infected wound within a few days. As such, the NHS and the UK government are collaborating with various biotech companies, spending more and more money on the research on the therapeutic use of live maggots,

In fact, maggots have been frequently utilized throughout history. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, maggots were frequently used to heal wounds, with their use peaking during World War I and II in the early 20th century. Therefore, the use of maggots is a tried and tested method that encompasses the knowledge of our ancestors, offering hope to patients infected with “superbugs” that kill over 700,000 patients annually.