Leeches harbor the organism Aeromonas hydrophilia in their g | Figure 1

Leeches and Aeromonas Hydrophilia

Leeches harbor the organism Aeromonas hydrophilia in their gut, which can give a patient an infection, so prophylaxis with a 3rd-gen ceph or fluoroquinolone (eg, ciprofloxacin) is prudent.

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Leech Therapy with Hirudo medicinalis. Very useful in graft sites that have inadequate venous return. Removes old blood until graft site develops sufficient venous flow and also provides a powerful clotting agent called Hirudin produced in the leeches saliva.

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