Key references: Prophylaxis for medicinal leech therapy

  • Elyassi AR, Terres J, Rowshan HH. Medicinal leech therapy on head and neck patients: a review of literature and proposed protocol. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2013;116(3):e167–72. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22819462
  • Giltner CL, Bobenchik AM, Uslan DZ, Deville JG, Humphries RM. Ciprofloxacin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila cellulitis following leech therapy. J Clin Microbiol 2013;51(4):1324–6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23363826
  • Herlin C, Bertheuil N, Bekara F, Boissiere F, Sinna R, Chaput B. Leech therapy in flap salvage: Systematic review and practical recommendations. Ann Chir Plast Esthet 2017;62(2):e1–e13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27427444
  • Kruer RM, Barton CA, Roberti G, Gilbert B, McMillian WD. Antimicrobial prophylaxis during Hirudo medicinalis therapy: a multicenter study. J Reconstr Microsurg 2015;31(3):205–9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25423029
  • Patel KM, Svestka M, Sinkin J, Ruff Pt. Ciprofloxacin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila infection following leech therapy: a case report and review of the literature. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2013;66(1):e20–2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23084650
  • Sartor C, Bornet C, Guinard D, Fournier PE. Transmission of Aeromonas hydrophila by leeches. Lancet 2013;381(9878):1686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23663954
  • Verriere B, Sabatier B, Carbonnelle E, Mainardi JL, Prognon P, Whitaker I, et al. Medicinal leech therapy and Aeromonas spp. infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2016;35(6):1001–6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27039338
  • Wang EW, Warren DK, Ferris VM, Casabar E, Nussenbaum B. Leech-transmitted ciprofloxacin-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2011;137(2):190–3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21339408
  • Whitaker IS, Kamya C, Azzopardi EA, Graf J, Kon M, Lineaweaver WC. Preventing infective complications following leech therapy: is practice keeping pace with current research? Microsurgery 2009;29(8):619–25. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19399888
  • Whitaker IS, Oboumarzouk O, Rozen WM, Naderi N, Balasubramanian SP, Azzopardi EA, et al. The efficacy of medicinal leeches in plastic and reconstructive surgery: a systematic review of 277 reported clinical cases. Microsurgery 2012;32(3):240–50. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407551
  • Wilmer A, Slater K, Yip J, Carr N, Grant J. The role of leech water sampling in choice of prophylactic antibiotics in medical leech therapy. Microsurgery 2013;33(4):301–4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23417901