When antibiotics fail, medicine seeks new ways to fight infections. Phage therapy —the use of specialized viruses that destroy bacteria—has become one of the most promising areas of the 21st century. These bacteriophages, or "bacteria hunters," are becoming a real lifesaver where conventional drugs fail.

Although phage therapy is still a novelty or experimental subject for many countries, it is already being actively used in hospitals, clinics, and research centers in some European countries. The most prominent examples are Georgia, Poland, and France —countries that, in varying degrees, are successfully introducing viral weapons against bacteria into medical practice.

Georgia: the historical homeland of phages

The Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages is one of the oldest and leading global centers in this field.

In Tbilisi, phages have long been a part of routine medical practice. They are used to treat intestinal infections, skin lesions, pneumonia, and urological diseases. The medications are available not only in hospitals but also in pharmacies, and patients from around the world travel to Georgia specifically for phage therapy.

A rapid diagnostic system is in place to select bacteriophages for a specific infection. If necessary, the laboratory creates personalized phage cocktails capable of destroying a specific bacterial strain identified through bacteriological analysis. This is a highly accurate and safe treatment method, particularly effective against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Phages are used in Georgia in various forms—orally, as drops, ointments, injections, or inhalations. They are even used in pediatrics , including for newborns with severe infections.

Poland: A synthesis of classical medicine and phage therapy

The Phage Therapy Center treats patients with severe chronic infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

Polish specialists are distinguished by their systematic approach: first, a complete microbiological study is conducted, the pathogen is identified, and only then is a phage or combination of phages selected. If a successful match is found, the patient receives permission to use the drug under the "special access" program.

Phages in Poland are used to treat:

• osteomyelitis;

• chronic wounds and trophic ulcers;

• urological infections;

• purulent complications after prosthetics;

• pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Although phage therapy has not yet been approved as a standard of treatment in the country, the state actively supports research, and the experience of Polish clinics is being studied worldwide.

France: Clinical Trials and Biotechnological Innovation

In clinical trials of phage preparations .

Research projects like Phagoburn , led by France, demonstrated the potential of bacteriophages to treat burn wounds. Although the results were mixed, the researchers gained invaluable data for further therapeutic development.

French clinics use phages in the ANSM format (analogous to the Ministry of Health); a special coordinating body for phage therapy has been created.

Scientists are also actively working on high-tech bioengineering .

Ukraine: A Strong School of Phage Therapy and Modern Prospects

Ukraine has a rich history in phage therapy, dating back to the mid-20th century. Ukrainian scientists were developing bacteriophage-based drugs long before interest in them returned in Europe.

Today, phage preparations are officially registered in Ukraine and can be purchased in pharmacies without a prescription. They are used for intestinal, skin, and urological infections, as well as for prophylaxis. Some clinics are developing customized phage cocktails , especially for chronic or complex infections.

The Ukrainian school of microbiology has accumulated significant experience, but requires better integration into the modern healthcare system. The experiences of Poland (institutional approach), Georgia (rapid diagnostics and accessibility), and France (clinical trials and innovation) can serve as excellent examples.

Ukraine already has a scientific base and specialists; all that remains is to establish a competitive niche for Ukraine not only in medicine but also in biotechnology.

What do these countries have in common and what can they learn from each other?

Despite their different approaches, Georgia, Poland, France, and Ukraine demonstrate one thing: phage therapy is not a fantasy, but an effective tool for modern medicine.

Common features:

• trained specialists who know how to work with phages;

• laboratories creating personalized phage cocktails;

• successful clinical experience;

• patients recovered thanks to phages.

The main challenge for other countries is to integrate phage therapy into the official healthcare system . This requires standards, legal frameworks, government programs, and information for doctors and patients. Only then can bacteriophages become a widespread, rather than a "reserve," treatment method.