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Clinical Application of Bacteriophage Therapy in Children

Nanda Ramchandar1,2,3,4, John S Bradley2,4

  • 1Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California.

Pediatrics
|February 10, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Bacteriophages offer a precise alternative to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in children, preserving their microbiome. This review explores their potential in pediatric precision antimicrobial therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Therapy

Background:

  • Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, offering high specificity for targeted pathogen elimination.
  • Current research on bacteriophage therapy is extensive in adults, but data in pediatric populations remain limited.
  • Antibiotic therapies can disrupt the beneficial pediatric microbiome, necessitating alternative treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review bacteriophages as a novel antimicrobial approach for pediatric infections.
  • To discuss the potential of bacteriophage therapy in precision medicine for children.
  • To highlight research gaps and future directions for bacteriophage applications in pediatrics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of bacteriophage therapy in adult and pediatric contexts.
  • Discussion of bacteriophage specificity and microbiome-sparing effects.
  • Exploration of practical considerations, limitations, and administration routes (topical and systemic).

Main Results:

  • Bacteriophages demonstrate high specificity against target pathogens, minimizing collateral damage to the microbiome.
  • Pediatric application presents an opportunity for precision antimicrobial strategies, especially for multidrug-resistant infections.
  • Potential exists for bacteriophages as primary or adjunctive therapy in children.

Conclusions:

  • Bacteriophage therapy holds significant promise for pediatric infectious diseases, offering a microbiome-sparing alternative.
  • Further pediatric research is crucial to establish safety, efficacy, and optimal application protocols.
  • This approach could revolutionize directed, precision antimicrobial treatments for infants and children.

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