Bacteriophage therapy to combat MDR non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria causing nosocomial infections: recent...

Clinicians face significant challenges in managing nosocomial infections, primarily due to antimicrobial resistance in multidrug-resistant bacteria. Regardless of the availability of a wide range of antimicrobials in the market, resistance is escalating rampantly with every passing day, which has become a global concern. Hence, it is essential to discover new and more efficient techniques to eliminate pathogens from healthcare settings. Along with eliminating pathogenic bacteria, mitigating their antimicrobial resistance with novel methods is very essential. Recently, bacteriophages have re-emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative to treat serious infections caused by bacterial pathogens. Bacteriophages were discovered for the first time a century ago, but their usage has recently regained more attention in treating bacterial pathogens. Bacteriophages also help in mitigating the worldwide problem of antibiotic resistance, particularly augmented by Gram-negative bacteria. This review discussed the advancements in the usage of bacteriophages in combating the antimicrobial resistance of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, with a prime focus on Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), which are renowned non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) pathogens. Additionally, the effects of single phage, phage cocktails, and combination therapy with antibiotics on bacterial biofilms and polymicrobial biofilms are also discussed.