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In an era where antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to global health, causing approximately 1.3 million deaths annually according to the World Health Organization, a potential solution is gaining traction: bacteriophage therapy (BT).
BT, a treatment that uses viruses specifically designed to infect and destroy bacteria, is being actively employed as an alternative or adjunct treatment to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections. Countries like Georgia and Slovakia, with historic and ongoing experience in phage therapy, are leading the way in this developing field.
BT offers a unique approach to targeting drug-resistant bacteria, including those forming protective biofilms or persister cells, which conventional antibiotics cannot eradicate. It also targets mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, such as plasmid conjugation, to help reduce the spread of resistance genes.
In Georgia and Slovakia, BT is used in a variety of ways. It is administered intravenously or locally, often in combination with antibiotics to enhance treatment efficacy and overcome resistance. The therapy serves in prophylaxis or suppression of infections, sometimes even self-administered by outpatients. BT may also potentially reverse antibiotic resistance indirectly by weakening bacterial virulence and membrane structures, making bacteria more susceptible to immune clearance and antibiotics.
Georgia is home to one of the longest-running phage therapy centers, where phage preparations are tailored for individual patients in a clinical setting. Slovakia also has active institutions practicing phage therapy, contributing to clinical applications against MDR infections.
However, the broader clinical adoption of BT worldwide is still limited by regulatory issues, variable clinical outcomes, and the need for more randomized controlled trials. Nonetheless, the success demonstrated in Georgia and Slovakia suggests that BT can be a safe and practical tool to combat antimicrobial resistance, especially in scenarios where conventional treatments fail.
Researchers from the US, Georgia, Kenya, and Uganda are collaborating to develop phage therapies, with phage samples from the US and African countries being used to build up a biobank and produce specific phage cocktails. These efforts are crucial in expanding the reach and effectiveness of BT as a viable solution to antibiotic resistance.
While some countries, like Georgia and Slovakia, are implementing phage therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections, others are still conducting clinical studies. Germany, for instance, awaits clinical studies for approval. The implementation of phage therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections is varied across different countries, reflecting the ongoing research and development in this area.
As the global fight against antibiotic resistance continues, the potential of BT as a viable solution is becoming increasingly evident. The success stories from countries like Georgia and Slovakia serve as a testament to the potential of this innovative approach, offering hope for a future where antibiotic-resistant infections can be effectively treated.
[1] Kutter E, Kutateladze S, Bavlyuk V, et al. Phage Therapy of Infectious Diseases: Current Status and Perspectives. Molecules. 2018;23(8):2126. [2] Abedon ST. Phage therapy: a review of the current state of the field. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2011;66(3):579-587. [3] Abedon ST. Phage therapy: a review of the current state of the field. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2011;66(3):579-587. [4] Abedon ST. Phage therapy: a review of the current state of the field. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2011;66(3):579-587.
- The international scientific community is actively collaborating to develop bacteriophage therapy (BT), a potential solution to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, with researchers from America, Georgia, Kenya, and Uganda working together to build a biobank and produce specific phage cocktails.
- Countries like Africa, specifically Kenya and Uganda, are contributing to the development of BT, with the collaboration aimed at expanding the reach and effectiveness of this innovative medical-condition treatment as a viable solution to antibiotic resistance.
- From an international perspective, the implementation of BT for health-and-wellness purposes, including the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections, varies across different countries, with some countries, such as Georgia and Slovakia, leading the way, while others, like Germany, are still conducting clinical studies.
