Antimicrobial prophylaxis during Hirudo medicinalis therapy: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis) are indicated for salvage of tissue flaps, grafts, or replants when venous congestion threatens tissue viability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antimicrobial agents in patients who received medicinal leech therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study of all adult patients between January 1, 2010, and February 28, 2013, who received medicinal leech therapy was conducted.

RESULTS: Antimicrobial prophylaxis was documented in 54 (91.5%) of the included patients, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, piperacillin-tazobactam, and ceftriaxone in 33 (61.1%), 18 (33.3%), 2 (3.7%), and 2 (3.7%) patients, respectively. Surgical site infection (SSI) was found in seven (11.9%) patients, all of whom received antimicrobial prophylaxis. Aeromonas spp. was isolated in four infections, and all isolates were resistant to the chosen prophylactic agent. The SSI incidence was similar between antimicrobial prophylaxis agents.

CONCLUSION: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin appear equally effective at preventing leech-associated infections.