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Gram-Positive Pneumonia: Possibilities Offered by Phage Therapy

Lucía Fernández1,2, María Dolores Cima-Cabal3, Ana Catarina Duarte1,2

  • 1Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Paseo Río Linares s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Phage therapy offers a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial pneumonia, especially with rising antibiotic resistance. This review explores its benefits and challenges for lung infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Pneumonia presents a significant global health burden with high hospitalization and mortality rates.
  • Bacterial pneumonia is increasingly challenging due to antibiotic resistance, exacerbated by COVID-19 treatment practices.
  • Current antimicrobial strategies are tested by evolving host-pathogen interactions in pneumonia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of phage therapy as an alternative treatment for bacterial lung infections.
  • To highlight the advantages of using bacteriophages against Gram-positive bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • To discuss the regulatory and research-related obstacles hindering the clinical application of phage therapy.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes existing literature on phage therapy for bacterial pneumonia.
  • It focuses on bacteriophages effective against key Gram-positive pathogens.
  • The analysis includes an examination of regulatory landscapes and research challenges.

Main Results:

  • Phage therapy demonstrates potential as an effective treatment for bacterial pneumonia.
  • Bacteriophages offer a viable alternative to antibiotics, particularly against resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus.
  • Significant regulatory hurdles and research complexities impede the widespread clinical adoption of phage therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Phage therapy represents a promising avenue for combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial pneumonia.
  • Addressing regulatory impediments and advancing phage research are crucial for clinical implementation.
  • Further investigation is warranted to fully realize the therapeutic potential of bacteriophages in treating lung infections.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus aureusStreptococcus pneumoniaeantibiotic resistanceendolysinsnew therapiesphage therapypneumonia

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