Lytic Activity of Various Phage Cocktails on Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and are explored as alternatives to antibiotics.
• Multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections pose a significant global health threat.
• Phage therapy offers a potential solution for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the lytic activity of Pyo, Intesti, and Fersisi bacteriophage cocktails.
• To assess the efficacy of these cocktails against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.
• To determine the potential of phage cocktails as a treatment for MDR bacterial infections.

Main Methods:

• Ten clinical isolates of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa from Turkey were used.
• Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility were determined using the Vitec 2 system.
• Species-specific PCR confirmed isolate identities, and lytic activity was assessed via spot tests and plaque assays.

Main Results:

• The Pyo phage cocktail demonstrated susceptibility in eight MDR S. aureus isolates and nine antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates.
• Only two S. aureus and one P. aeruginosa isolate showed resistance to the Pyo cocktail.
• The Pyo, Intesti, and Fersisi cocktails proved highly effective against Turkish clinical strains of MDR P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

Conclusions:

• Bacteriophage cocktails (Pyo, Intesti, Fersisi) are effective against MDR P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.
• These phage cocktails represent a viable therapeutic option for infections caused by these bacteria.
• Further research into phage therapy is warranted for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.