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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Phage Phenomics: Physiological Approaches to Characterize Novel Viral Proteins
Published on: June 11, 2015
Case report: Analysis of phage therapy failure in a patient with a
Lucia Blasco1,2, Inmaculada López-Hernández3,4,5,6, Miguel Rodríguez-Fernández7
1Translational and Multidisciplinary Microbiology (MicroTM)-Biomedical Research Institute (INIBIC), University of A Coruña (UDC), A Coruña, Spain.
Abstract:
Clinical case of a patient with a Pseudomonas aeruginosa multidrug-resistant prosthetic vascular graft infection which was treated with a cocktail of phages (PT07, 14/01, and PNM) in combination with ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA). After the application of the phage treatment and in absence of antimicrobial therapy, a new P. aeruginosa bloodstream infection (BSI) with a septic residual limb metastasis occurred, now involving a wild-type strain being susceptible to ß-lactams and quinolones. Clinical strains were analyzed by microbiology and whole genome sequencing techniques. In relation with phage administration, the clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa before phage therapy (HE2011471) and post phage therapy (HE2105886) showed a clonal relationship but with important genomic changes which could be involved in the resistance to this therapy. Finally, phenotypic studies showed a decrease in Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) to ß-lactams and quinolones as well as an increase of the biofilm production and phage resistant mutants in the clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa post phage therapy.
Insights
This case study shows Pseudomonas aeruginosa developing resistance to phage therapy, leading to a new bloodstream infection. Genomic changes were observed in the bacteria after treatment, impacting its susceptibility to antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Genomics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Prosthetic vascular graft infections pose significant challenges due to multidrug-resistant pathogens.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common cause of healthcare-associated infections, often exhibiting antimicrobial resistance.
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