An 80-year-old male, with a history of diabetes, presented with sepsis and a large, odorous leg wound containing maggots. Initial blood cultures grew Gram-negative bacilli, identified as Ignatzschineria larvae via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The patient received antibiotic treatment with piperacillin-tazobactam and wound debridement. Despite treatment, the patient's condition deteriorated, and he ultimately died. This case highlights a rare instance of Ignatzschineria larvae causing sepsis in a human, underscoring the importance of advanced molecular diagnostics for identifying unusual pathogens in polymicrobial infections, especially in vulnerable patients with neglected wounds.
Key note: Ignatzschineria larvae can cause severe systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals with myiasis.