Approaching the post-antibiotic era: phage therapy current practices and future horizons

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Bacteriophages (phages) are natural bacterial predators with a long history of clinical use.
• Phage therapy development stalled but is now resurging due to rising antibiotic resistance and complex infections.
• Existing clinical trial data is sparse, but case reports suggest significant potential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current clinical data on phage therapy's effectiveness.
• To identify infectious diseases where phage therapy shows promise.
• To highlight areas needing further research and collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing literature on phage therapy clinical utility.
• Analysis of case reports and series demonstrating phage therapy outcomes.
• Identification of knowledge gaps and future research directions.

Main Results:

• Phage therapy shows potential for treating difficult bacterial infections, especially those resistant to antibiotics.
• Clinical utility is demonstrated through increasing case reports and series.
• Certain indications show stronger potential than others, with varying certainty.

Conclusions:

• Phage therapy offers a promising alternative or adjunct to conventional treatments for bacterial infections.
• Further rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are essential to optimize its application.
• Collaborative efforts between scientists and clinicians are crucial for advancing phage therapy.