Military health applications of bacteriophage: opportunities and challenges

Bacteriophage (phage) is a virus that infects and kills bacteria but not human cells. As phages and bacteria have co-evolved over thousands of years, each phage is highly specific for its host bacteria. Phages were discovered over 100 years ago, with increasing antimicrobial resistance, there has been a resurgence of interest in phage therapy for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Given their ubiquitous nature and high specificity, phages have many advantages as a potential therapy. However, their utility is not limited to treatment and phages can also be useful tools for diagnosis, decontamination and prophylaxis. This article reviews the potential uses for phage and explores the associated opportunities and challenges within a military medical context.