Advances in Bacteriophage Therapy against Relevant MultiDrug-Resistant Pathogens

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Rising antimicrobial resistance poses a significant global health threat.
• The World Health Organization prioritizes new treatments for critical priority pathogens like carbapenem-resistant *A. baumannii*, *P. aeruginosa*, and ESBL-producing *Enterobacteriaceae*.
• Phage therapy is emerging as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in phage therapy for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
• To summarize studies utilizing phage therapy in animal models, case reports, and clinical trials.
• To discuss the efficacy of phage-antibiotic combinations and the limitations of phage therapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on phage therapy.
• Analysis of case reports and clinical trials involving phage therapy for resistant bacterial infections.
• Evaluation of phage therapy efficacy, especially in combination with antibiotics and against biofilms.

Main Results:

• Phage therapy is being explored as a last resort for multidrug-resistant infections.
• Combining phage therapy with antibiotics demonstrates increased effectiveness, including against biofilm-forming bacteria.
• Studies in animal models, case reports, and clinical trials show promise for treating infections caused by resistant *A. baumannii*, *K. pneumoniae*, *E. coli*, and *P. aeruginosa*.

Conclusions:

• Phage therapy represents a significant alternative strategy to combat the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
• The combination of phages and antibiotics is a potent approach for treating difficult-to-treat bacterial infections.
• Further research and clinical application are needed to overcome the limitations and fully realize the potential of phage therapy.