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[Per os given bacteriophages changes the clinical course of diseases caused by bacterial agents in children]

K I Pagava, G J Metskhvarishvili, I A Korineli

    Georgian Medical News
    |November 8, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    Peroral bacteriophage therapy showed positive clinical effects in children with various infectious diseases. This approach improved overall condition, suggesting potential benefits for pediatric infectious disease management.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Microbiology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria.
    • Bacteriophage therapy is a potential alternative to antibiotics for bacterial infections.
    • Pediatric infectious diseases require effective and safe treatment options.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the clinical efficacy of orally administered bacteriophages in children.
    • To assess the impact of bacteriophage therapy on the clinical course of various pediatric infections.
    • To investigate the effect of bacteriophages on clinical and paraclinical markers of disease severity.

    Main Methods:

    • An open clinical trial involving 85 children (1 week to 15 years) with sepsis, bacterial diarrhea, urinary tract infections, upper respiratory tract infections, and bacterial pneumonia.
    • Complex therapy including commercial bacteriophages was administered.
    • A case-control study design was employed with matched controls.
    • Clinical and paraclinical markers, along with an integrated index of condition severity using fuzzy logic, were monitored dynamically.

    Main Results:

    • Oral bacteriophage treatment demonstrated positive trends in investigated clinical and paraclinical parameters.
    • The most significant improvement was observed in the integrated index of condition severity.
    • The study suggests a beneficial effect of bacteriophages in managing pediatric infectious diseases.

    Conclusions:

    • Peroral bacteriophage therapy shows promise in improving the clinical outcomes of infectious diseases in children.
    • Further rigorous studies, including large-scale, double-blind trials, are warranted to confirm the clinical value of bacteriophagetherapy.
    • Bacteriophage therapy represents a potential therapeutic avenue for pediatric infectious conditions.

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