When traditional therapy fails, phage therapy can be a real lifesaver. But which bacterial infections are most often treated with phages? And in what cases can they be particularly effective?

Gastrointestinal diseases

One of the most studied applications of phages is the treatment of intestinal infections. Drugs based on these viruses are actively used against infections caused by Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, Salmonella enterica, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Proteus vulgaris.

Most often we are talking about the following diseases:

• dysentery;

• salmonellosis;

• colienteritis;

• dysbacteriosis after antibiotic therapy.

Bacteriophages are especially valuable in pediatric practice, as children are more likely to suffer from acute intestinal infections, and antibiotics can cause complications or allergic reactions. Phage therapy for gastrointestinal infections can reduce symptoms within the first few days of treatment without aggressively interfering with the microbiome.

Urogenital infections

Urological diseases are one of the main battlegrounds between bacteria and drugs. Antibiotic resistance is increasingly being detected in pathogens such as Proteus, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, and E. coli. It is in these situations that bacteriophages are used to treat urogenital infections.

These include the following diseases:

• cystitis;

• pyelonephritis;

• urethritis;

• bacterial vaginosis.

Phage preparations can be administered orally, intravaginally, or through a bladder catheter. This allows for maximum concentration of the active ingredient without harming other organs.

Thanks to the targeted action of bacterial viruses, the patient is not exposed to additional toxic load. Therefore, bacteriophages are a safe alternative for urogenital infections.

Purulent wounds and skin infections

Another area where bacteriophages demonstrate high efficacy is the treatment of infected wounds, burns, and dermatological lesions. The greatest danger in these cases is posed by antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (particularly MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Bacteriophages are used in the presence of:

• boils and carbuncles;

• pyoderma;

• infected postoperative sutures;

• trophic ulcers and bedsores;

• burns complicated by bacterial infection.

For topical treatment of purulent wounds, bacteriophages are used as solutions, ointments, gels, or dressings soaked in the phage preparation. These are applied directly to the affected area. These treatments are often combined with physical therapy or bandages in a hospital setting.

Phage therapy for wounds not only eliminates pathogens but also accelerates healing, reduces swelling, pain, and pus formation. Most importantly, it avoids the use of aggressive antibiotics or surgery in severe cases.

This approach is being actively implemented in the practice of field hospitals, reconstructive surgery centers and burn clinics.

The scope of bacteriophages' applications is constantly expanding. They are also used in the treatment of ENT diseases, respiratory infections, eye diseases, and even in dentistry. They are gradually regaining their place in clinical medicine and may well become the primary method for combating bacterial infections in the coming years.