Multidrug-resistant bacteria are becoming an increasingly significant problem in medicine, with antibiotic resistance now being one of the leading causes of death globally. However, a recent study has shown that bacteriophages, or viruses that infect bacteria, can help combat these infections. Bacteriophages are specialized to attack specific types of bacteria, meaning they do not harm useful bacteria or healthy cells during treatment. The primary challenge in using bacteriophages for therapy is finding the appropriate phage for each bacterial strain.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California have published the results of a study on bacteriophages in the Clinical Infectious Diseases journal. The study involved 20 participants infected with antibiotic-resistant Mycobacterium, mostly strains of Mycobacterium abscessus. Sixteen of the participants had cystic fibrosis, a metabolic disease that creates optimal conditions for bacteria to thrive and cause inflammation and other health problems. The researchers administered different bacteriophages to the participants through injection or inhalation, with each participant receiving at least one billion units twice daily for six months.
The treatment was successful in 11 of the 20 patients (55%), with no observed side effects or indications of the bacteria developing new resistance. However, the researchers noted that finding or producing phages that can target every strain of bacteria remains a significant challenge. A clinical study with bacteriophages is set to begin in Germany in the second half of the year, with participants exclusively being people with cystic fibrosis infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study will use a combination of three phages that cover most P. aeruginosa strains, with initial results expected to be published next year.
The results of the study are impressive, particularly given the heterogeneity of the participants and the different types of infections and pathogens involved. While the use of bacteriophages for therapy is still in its early stages, it shows promise as a potential alternative to antibiotics in the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
