Phage therapy is a treatment option for bacterial infections which involves introducing organisms known as bacteriophages to the body. These organisms kill off the bacteria, resolving the infection. This treatment is regarded as experimental in many regions of the world, although researchers are working to learn more about it, and to demonstrate the potential applications and limitations of phage therapy.
This technique was developed in Russia, and it is most widely accepted by the medical community in Russia and some former members of the Soviet Union, such as Georgia. Documented use of phage therapy dates back to the First World War, when the technique was used to treat soldiers. Infections from battle wounds and poor conditions in the trenches were a major problem for many nations fighting in the war, and phage therapy was one among many techniques developed during this war in an attempt to reduce mortality for soldiers.
There are some distinct advantages to phage therapy. Unlike antibiotics, which have a more general effect, phages are targeted specifically at a narrow range of bacterial species. They do not cause collateral damage to beneficial bacteria in the body and healthy cells, and as a result, phage therapy is not associated with side effects. Phages can also be used to treat bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics, and while bacteria can develop phage resistance, it is easy to develop new phages to compensate, in contrast with the long development period for new antibiotics.
The primary disadvantage of phage therapy is its very narrow applications. In patients with bacterial infections, samples from the patient need to be cultured and then tested with several potential bacteriophages to determine which one will most effectively limit the bacteria. This can make phage therapy expensive and time consuming, in contrast with antibiotic therapy, in which drugs are often administered at the first sign of infection to start knocking the bacteria out right away.
In order for phage therapy to be approved for use in locations like the United States and Europe, it will need to be tested extensively for safety and efficacy, and subjected to the drug review process used to evaluate other drugs. This process can take years, and sometimes decades, because safety concerns are paramount. Several research institutions are interested in this, and have started small-scale pilot programs, and with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, major biological research organizations and drug companies may join the phage therapy research community.
