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Use of phage therapy to treat long-standing, persistent, or chronic bacterial infections
1Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH 44906.
Abstract:
Viruses of bacteria - known as bacteriophages or phages - have been used clinically as antibacterial agents for nearly 100 years. Often this phage therapy is of long-standing, persistent, or chronic bacterial infections, and this can be particularly so given prior but insufficiently effective infection treatment using standard antibiotics. Such infections, in turn, often have a biofilm component. Phages in modern medicine thus are envisaged to serve especially as anti-biofilm/anti-persistent infection agents. Here I review the English-language literature concerning in vivo experimental and clinical phage treatment of longer-lived bacterial infections. Overall, published data appears to be supportive of a relatively high potential for phages to cure infections which are long standing and which otherwise have resisted treatment with antibieiotics.
Insights
Bacteriophages (phages) show high potential for treating chronic bacterial infections, especially those with biofilms that resist antibiotics. This phage therapy offers a promising alternative for persistent infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriophage Therapy
Background:
- Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that infect bacteria and have a long history of clinical use.
- Chronic bacterial infections, often characterized by biofilms, frequently resist conventional antibiotic treatments.
- Phage therapy is being re-evaluated as a potent anti-biofilm and anti-persistent infection strategy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the English-language literature on in vivo experimental and clinical phage treatment of long-standing bacterial infections.
- To assess the potential of phages in treating infections that have not responded to antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of published studies on phage therapy for persistent bacterial infections.
- Analysis of experimental and clinical data concerning the efficacy of phages in vivo.
Main Results:
- Published data suggests a significant potential for phages to successfully treat chronic bacterial infections.
- Phage therapy appears effective in cases where antibiotic treatments have failed.
Conclusions:
- Phage therapy is a promising approach for managing persistent bacterial infections, particularly those involving biofilms.
- Further research and clinical application of phages are warranted for challenging infectious diseases.
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Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause: