Phage treatment of human infections

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Bacteriophages (phages) have been utilized for nearly a century as therapeutic agents against bacterial infections.
• Phage therapy represents a long-standing, yet often under-explored, medical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of the historical and contemporary use of phage therapy in human medicine.
• To highlight under-documented historical contributions, particularly from France, Poland, the US, Georgia, and Russia.
• To discuss modern phage therapy applications across various diseases, alongside safety, pharmacology, and probiotic considerations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical and contemporary research on phage therapy.
• Analysis of early and modern case studies and clinical applications.
• Examination of scientific literature concerning phage safety and pharmacology.

Main Results:

• Phage therapy has a rich, multi-decade history with significant international contributions.
• Modern applications demonstrate continued relevance and diverse disease targets for phage therapy.
• Phage safety and pharmacological aspects are crucial for effective therapeutic implementation.

Conclusions:

• Phage therapy is a viable and historically significant approach to combating bacterial infections.
• Further research into phage safety, pharmacology, and novel applications, including probiotics, is warranted.
• Recognizing the global history of phage therapy can inform future clinical development and implementation.