Tropical Disease Unit, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
We report a case of furuncular myiasis complicated by Staphylococcus aureus infection and beta-hemolytic streptococcal cellulitis. The Dermatobia hominis larva that caused this lesion could not be extracted using standard methods, including suffocation and application of lateral pressure, and surgery was contraindicated because of cellulitis. The botfly maggot was completely and rapidly extracted with an inexpensive, disposable, commercial venom extractor.