Case Report

A Rare Case of Tracheostomal Myiasis- A Case Report and Review of Literature

Sumana CV*, Betty Mariam Jacob and Suhel Hasan

Department of ENT, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, India

Submission: April 03, 2020; Published: April 20, 2020

*Corresponding author:Sumana CV, Department of ENT, Mazumdar Shaw Medical Centre, Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

How to cite this article: Sumana C, Betty Mariam J, Suhel H. A Rare Case of Tracheostomal Myiasis- A Case Report and Review of Literature. Glob J Oto, 2020; 22(2): 556082. DOI: 10.19080/GJO.2020.22.556082

Abstract

Myiasis is the infestation of larvae of flies of the order Diptera, in humans. The larvae can infect various parts of the human body including, skin, necrotic tissues, and natural cavities of living persons. Myiasis in the tracheostomy stoma is very rare. We present one such case of myiasis in the tracheostoma in a 42 year old male patient who is a known case of retroviral disease and pseudobulbar palsy.

Keywords: Myiasis; Tracheostomy stoma

Introduction

The term myiasis is derived from the Greek word “muia” which means fly. Hindu mythology describes myiasis as “God’s punishment for sinners” [1,2]. Myiasis is the infestation of larvae of flies of the order Diptera in humans. The larvae can infect skin, necrotic tissues, and natural cavities of living persons. Myiasis can be primary if it infects intact skin, or secondary if it infects a previous injury site. Myiasis may be classified depending on the relationship with the host, as obligatory- which requires a live host for parasite survival, facultative -developing in live or dead organic matter, or accidental where they develop accidentally in an inappropriate host [3].

Myiasis is rare in the western countries. It is commonly seen in hot and humid climates in hot and humid climates in tropical and subtropical regions, such as underdeveloped areas of the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and Southeast Asia, which provide favorable breeding grounds for flies [4,5]. Myiasis can infest various parts of the human body. But Myiasis in the tracheal stoma is very rare and not many cases have been reported in the English literature. Here we report a case of Myiasis in the tracheostoma seen in a patient with retroviral disease and pseudobulbar palsy.

Case Report

A 42 year old male patient, a known case of retroviral disease on medication, presented with complaints of fever, redness and maggots at the tracheostoma site since 1 week. He had history of Multi Drug Resistant Tubercular Meningitis and Pseudo bulbar palsy with right sided hemiparesis and left sided hemiplegia, following which he was tracheostomised and was on PEG feeds. He was getting rehabilitative care at a local hospital in his village, where there was poor hygienic environment. Tracheostomy tube had not been changed since more than 2 years and did not receive regular tracheostomy tube and stoma care. On examination, he was conscious and was obeying commands. He was tachypneic, tachycardiac and hypotensive, maintaining 95% oxygen saturation on room air. He was on size 7 cuffed tracheostomy tube with fowl smelling discharge from the wound. There was diffuse tender swelling around the stoma, with features of cellulitis, which was more on the left side. When the flange of the tracheostomy tube was lifted, multiple live maggots were seen in the stoma (Figure 1 & 2). As he was in septic shock, he was shifted to an isolation room in the ICU. He was resuscitated with IV fluids, vasopressors and IV antibiotics after taking culture from the tracheostomy wound and tracheal secretion. CT of the neck and thorax revealed soft tissue swelling and subcutaneous Edema with few air pockets surrounding tracheostomy site in a subcutaneous plane with no extension into the thorax (Figure 3).

After he was stabilized, visible live maggots were removed. Gauze soaked in turpentine oil (few drops only) was carefully placed around the stoma for few minutes. Turpentine oil has to be used cautiously to prevent chemical pneumonitis. After removing the gauze, few more live maggots were seen crawling out, which were removed. Wound was then cleaned and dressing was done. This was done twice daily for 3 days and then he was taken under General anaesthesia for exploration of the wound tracheostomy tube change. Necrotic tissue and few more live maggots were removed (Figure 4 & 5). A deep pocket under the skin was seen around the stoma on the left side, which was thoroughly cleaned. Tracheostomy tube was then changed with utmost care, avoiding entry of the maggots into the airway. In total, about 30 live maggots were removed./

Gene Xpert from the tracheal aspirate was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Deep tracheal aspirate culture sensitivity grew E.coli, Strenotrophomonas maltophilia and Morganella Morgan. IV antibiotics were advised accordingly. With regular dressing of the tracheostomy stoma, the wound healed well in 2 weeks (Figure 6) and he was off vasopressor support. Flexible nasopharyngolaryngeal examination was done before discharge. He had pooling of saliva in bilateral pyriform sinus, vocal cords were mobile with mild phonatory gap and he was aspirating. So he was advised to continue PEG feeds and rehabilitative care. Patient’s attenders were counselled and taught regarding regular tracheostomy wound care.

Discussion

Myiasis was defined by Zumpt in 1965, as the infestation of live human and vertebrae animals with dipterous larvae, which at least for certain period feeds on the host’s dead or living tissue, liquid body substances, or ingested food [6]. Dipterous larvae can be classified based on the tropism of the tissue as [1]:

a. Cutaneous Myiasis- invading dermo-epidermal layers of the host

b. Myiasis of natural orifices- nose, ear, oral, pharyngeal myiasis

c. Myiasis with inner migration- larvae migrate inside the body before emerging at skin level.

Tracheostomy stomal Myiasis is rare and very few have been reported in English literature. Predisposing factors for the development of myiasis are low socioeconomic status, unhealthy environments, exposed wound with fowl smelling discharge which attracts flies, advanced age, alcoholism, neurologic diseases, vegetative state of the patient, immunocompromised individuals, psychiatric illness and lack of personal hygiene [3,7]. Chigusa et al. [8] stated that patients with psychiatric disorders, elderly and debilitated persons, should be protected from flies, because of their autism and/or decreased sensitivity, which may make it easy for flies to deposit eggs or larvae on the patient’s body surface or orifices [8]. Our patient was immunocompromised, living in unhygienic environment, paralyzed and his tracheostomy tube was not changed for a long time, which might have predisposed to develop Myiasis (Table 1).

Systemic broad spectrum antibiotics are needed to prevent secondary infections. Underlying predisposing factors like nutrition and anaemia also needs to be addressed [7,12]. Preventive measures should be taken like maintaining good personal hygiene, preventing flies from entering houses and hospitals, daily dressing of tracheostomy stoma, regular suctioning of tracheal secretions, covering the tube by a fine wet gauze. Tracheostomy tube should be changed regularly.

Conclusion

Myiasis of tracheostomy stoma is very rare. Though not a lethal disorder, knowledge of this disease is necessary to prevent, diagnose and treat the condition. It can be fatal if it occurs near great vessels and vital organs. Management of myiasis needs precaution while removing maggots to prevent aspiration and cautious use of chemicals avoiding chemical pneumonitis. Otorhinolaryngologists should be aware of this disease, especially in the western countries where the incidence is very rare. It is important to educate the patient and relatives about the proper care of the tracheostomy tube and stoma and the need for regular follow up.

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