Bacteriophage therapy: a potential solution for the antibiotic resistance crisis

• Published in: Journal of infection in developing countries Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 129 - 136
• Main Authors: Golkar, Zhabiz, Bagasra, Omar, Pace, Donald Gene
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 13.02.2014; The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Bacterial Infections - therapy; bacteriophage; Bacteriophages; Biological Therapy - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; infectious disease; Phages; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1972-2680; 2036-6590; 1972-2680
• DOI: 10.3855/jidc.3573

The emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria has prompted interest in alternatives to conventional antimicrobials. One of the possible replacement options for antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents. Phage therapy is an important alternative to antibiotics in the current era of drug-resistant pathogens. Bacteriophages have played an important role in the expansion of molecular biology and have been used as antibacterial agents since 1966. In this review, we describe a brief history of bacteriophages and clinical studies on their use in bacterial disease prophylaxis and therapy. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents in this regard.