Wounds, abscesses, burns
- Bacteriophages are used to treat purulent wounds, abscesses, extensive burns, and surgical wounds.
- Bacteriophages are used locally (irrigation, lotions, tamponade with liquid phage), as well as orally.
- Bacteriophages are used to treat long-term non-healing infected wounds when pathogens are resistant to antibiotics of the main groups.
- Bacteriophages are used in the treatment of patients with intolerance to antibiotics or contraindications to their use.
- Bacteriophages can be used in combination with other antimicrobial agents.
- If the wound was treated with chemical antiseptics before using bacteriophages, it must be thoroughly washed with sterile saline solution.
- Bacteriophages can be used to prevent bacterial complications in superficial wounds in risk groups: the elderly, patients with allergies, weakened immune systems, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
Elderly and debilitated individuals, those with diabetes, severe venous insufficiency, and those undergoing chemotherapy often suffer from long-term non-healing wounds. Furthermore, extensive burns, boils, and abscesses are difficult to treat. Particularly dangerous are surgical or burn wounds infected with hospital-acquired strains of microorganisms—Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, etc.—that are resistant to most antibiotics used in modern clinical practice.
Bacteria can enter the bloodstream from the wound, causing serious systemic infections (endocarditis, sepsis, etc.). General malaise, fever, and chills that develop within a week of the wound's appearance may indicate the development of systemic infections.
Biofilms
A number of infectious processes, particularly chronic infected wounds, are difficult to treat with antibiotics due to biofilm formation, impaired blood circulation in the affected area, and limited drug access to the infection. In these cases, bacteriophages, which possess high penetrating ability, are more effective than antibiotics, especially when applied topically. Bacteriophages are capable of synthesizing a specific enzyme, polysaccharide depolymerase, which increases bacteriophage mobility upon contact with a polymeric substance. Phages, which utilize extracellular depolymerases, destroy the biofilm matrix to reach embedded bacteria.
Read also: Bacteriophages against biofilms in chronic wounds
MRSA
A major problem in modern surgery is MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a bacterial infection resistant to most antibiotics. MRSA is the most common multidrug-resistant pathogen causing hospital-acquired infections in Europe. Bacteriophages can be used to treat MRSA infections, as phage resistance in MRSA is very rare. Phages have also been shown to kill Staphylococcus aureus in biofilms. Bacteriophages, particularly Pyofag®, are used to prevent and treat purulent-septic complications of wound healing. This drug exhibits bactericidal activity against a number of common pathogens, including those resistant to antibiotics.
Read also: Phage therapy for infected diabetic foot
Phage therapy
The drug Pyofag® is used locally and orally for the treatment of purulent wounds, burns, abscesses, and for the prevention of purulent-septic infections of soft tissues.
The drug is used as irrigation, lotions, and applications (a gauze pad soaked in the bacteriophage preparation is applied to the inflamed areas twice daily). It is also used to flush drainage systems at least once daily at a dose of 20 to 40 ml for 10 days. For abscesses, the bacteriophage is injected into the lesion after pus has been removed by puncture. The drug is taken orally at the appropriate dose three times daily, one hour before meals, for 7 to 20 days.
For age-specific dosages of the drug, see the Instructions for medical use of the medicinal product Pyofag®.
- For age-specific dosages of the drug, see the Instructions for medical use of the medicinal product Pyofag®.
- Full information about the drug is contained in the Instructions for medical use.
- Before taking the medicine, read the instructions for medical use of Pyofag®.
Download the instructions for medical use of the medicinal product Pyofag®
Pyofag® R.S. No. UA/15974/01/01. Approved by Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 478 dated April 28, 2017.
Information about this medication is provided for informational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to self-medication. Only a physician can prescribe this medication, as well as determine the dosage and method of administration.