Interest in bacteriophages is growing every year—and for good reason. The problem of antibiotic resistance, frequent side effects of drug therapy, and the need for targeted yet gentle treatment are forcing medicine to seek alternatives. Bacteriophage-based drugs have emerged as one of the most promising and effective solutions to these challenges.

But what diseases exactly are treated with phages? When are they truly effective, and what makes these biological agents better than traditional antibiotics?

Below is an overview of the main groups of diseases for which phage therapy is already used in practice: sometimes as a primary method, and sometimes as an addition to complex treatment.

Respiratory, skin and wound infections

One of the most common applications is the treatment of respiratory tract infections using phage preparations. This applies to diseases such as:

• chronic bronchitis;

• sinusitis;

• bacterial sore throat (tonsillitis);

• pharyngitis;

• postoperative complications in the nasopharynx area.

Phages are used as rinses, nasal drops, or inhalations. They are effective against staphylococci, streptococci, Klebsiella, and other pathogens that cause complications and relapses after traditional treatment. Bacteriophages are particularly valuable for their ability to target multidrug-resistant bacterial strains that are insensitive to antibiotics.

In surgery and traumatology, these viruses are used to treat infected wounds, postoperative sutures, trophic ulcers, and burns. They are prescribed for protracted inflammatory processes when the wound does not heal or there is a risk of sepsis. Phages reduce inflammation, accelerate healing, and prevent purulent complications.

Bacteriophage preparations are applied directly to the skin as dressings, ointments, gels, or solutions. In some severe cases, intravenous or intra-wound administration is used to maximize phage-bacteria contact.

Gastrointestinal diseases

One of the main areas of phage therapy is gastroenterology . Phage-based drugs are used for:

• dysentery;

• salmonellosis;

• gastroenterocolitis;

• intestinal dysbacteriosis;

• foodborne toxic infections;

• enteropathies caused by opportunistic flora.

In such cases, phages are taken orally or rectally—as enemas or suppositories. This allows the active substance to be delivered directly to the site of inflammation or bacterial infection.

The main advantage of bacteriophages in this context is the preservation of the microflora . Where antibiotics often cause dysbiosis, phages, on the contrary, maintain balance by destroying only pathogenic bacteria. Therefore, phage therapy is particularly effective in treating intestinal infections in children, including newborns, when antibiotics can be dangerous.

Phages are also used to sanitize the intestines before surgery and to prevent postoperative infections in patients with weakened immune systems.

Urological, gynecological and eye infections

Another broad area is urology and gynecology . Phages are actively used to treat:

• pyelonephritis;

• cystitis;

• urethritis;

• bacterial vaginosis;

• chronic postoperative infections.

In these cases, bacteriophages are administered in various ways: as tampon solutions, douches, or tablets. This avoids the systemic effects of antibiotics, which often cause candidiasis or disruption of the genital tract microflora.

In gynecology, phage therapy is particularly effective for chronic and recurrent infections. It can even be used during pregnancy (as prescribed by a doctor), as phages are safe for the fetus and do not cause toxic effects.

In ophthalmology, bacteriophages are used for:

• purulent conjunctivitis;

• blepharitis;

• keratitis and other eye inflammations.

Phage drops or solutions are well tolerated by children and people with sensitive skin or allergies to traditional medications.

Why are phages more effective than antibiotics?

Bacteriophages have a number of advantages:

• High specificity – destroys only the target bacteria without disturbing the microbiome.

• No side effects - do not cause allergies, toxicity or dysbacteriosis.

• Suitable for patients with allergies to antibiotics.

• They act on resistant bacteria where antibiotics are no longer effective.

• Adaptability - phages can evolve along with bacteria while maintaining their effectiveness.

This makes phage therapy a powerful tool for targeted biotherapy , capable of fighting infections without harming the body.

A look into the future

Scientists around the world are working to create phage banks to collect the maximum diversity of viruses to combat the most dangerous pathogens. In the future, this will allow doctors to select the right phage in a matter of hours.

Phage therapy is already actively used in clinics in Belgium, Poland, France, the USA, Georgia and Israel , and is also being researched in Ukraine, where extensive experience in using phages has been accumulated since the mid-20th century.

Thus, the range of diseases effectively treated with bacteriophages is constantly expanding. Thanks to their selectivity, safety, and adaptability, phage preparations are becoming not just an alternative to antibiotics, but a new standard in personalized antimicrobial therapy .