Beyond Antibiotics: Exploring the Potential of Bacteriophages and Phage Therapy

The escalating global threat of antibiotic resistance has prompted a critical need for innovative approaches to bacterial infection treatment. In terms of management, bacterial-associated disorders have reached a critical point in the world due to the advent of drug-resistant types of bacteria. Nonetheless, continued bacteriophage research presents a promising frontier in the battle against bacterial infections. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of bacteriophage therapy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. According to our viewpoint, phage therapy could replace antibiotics in terms of safety, efficacy, and specificity. Furthermore, phage therapy offers versatility in administering single phage, phage products, or modified phage against various resistant bacteria. Moreover, Phage cocktails, with their synergistic combinations, showcase a holistic approach, mitigating the risk of resistance and expanding treatment possibilities. Similarly, the synergy between phages and antibiotics holds promise for overcoming antibiotic resistance and forging a path toward more effective and sustainable antimicrobial strategies. The review provides insights into the transformative impact of bacteriophage therapy on current bacterial infection treatment paradigms, its application with methodological challenges and limitations, as well as insights to scientists and policymakers on the best areas to study phages in order to combat antimicrobial resistance.