Maria was born with polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary disorder characterized by the formation of numerous cysts in the kidney parenchyma and their gradual enlargement. Polycystic kidney disease is one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases, affecting over 12.5 million people worldwide.

Maria was unaware of her illness until adulthood, when the cysts significantly increased in size, leading to kidney failure. She developed kidney failure, requiring hemodialysis, and then a double kidney transplant, which she underwent in 2017. Kidney infections had been a problem for Maria before the transplant, but they became more severe afterward. The causative agent, Escherichia coli , was multiply resistant to antibiotics. She received various intravenous antibiotics almost continuously, but they were ineffective. Maria frequently required hospitalization, and her condition worsened.

In January 2020, doctors from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine suggested Maria try bacteriophages as a treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. This medical institution is home to the first specialized phage therapy center in North America (IPATH), which already has extensive experience in phage therapy for antibiotic-resistant infections, particularly in transplant patients, patients with cystic fibrosis, and those with implanted medical devices. IPATH also used intravenous administration of phage preparations.

A phage cocktail containing bacteriophages specific to the E. coli strain with which she was infected was created for Maria. For six weeks, Maria received twice-daily infusions of the phage cocktail along with antibiotics. Her blood count, liver, and kidney function were constantly monitored. Within a week of starting treatment, Maria's condition improved, her appetite returned, and she was able to walk faster.

After completing the phage therapy course, E. coli was no longer present in her blood. Due to recurrent fevers, the doctor also discontinued Maria's antibiotics, and blood tests for the pathogen remained negative.

Since its launch in 2018, IPATH has received nearly 800 inquiries from physicians and patients, 119 of which were deemed appropriate for phage therapy. In each case, IPATH facilitated communication between the physician, patient, and the laboratory that created the phage preparation. Furthermore, IPATH received funding to create a library of well-characterized bacteriophages, which would facilitate the rapid selection of specific phages for the treatment of individual patients. Currently, IPATH, in partnership with the US National Institutes of Health, is preparing a clinical trial of phage therapy for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Source: One for the Phages: Kidney Transplant Patient with Recurring Infections Gets Viral Help