October 22 is World Bacteriophage Day, which kicks off World Bacteriophage Week, which runs until October 28. Congratulations to everyone interested and involved!

World Bacteriophage Week is a good opportunity to remind the medical, scientific, and general public about bacteriophages – amazing, incredible, and fantastically beautiful...

Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—were discovered by Frederick Twort and Félix d'Herelle over 100 years ago. They were considered a powerful weapon against bacterial infections, but the advent of antibiotics long sidelined them. About 15 years ago, when doctors worldwide sounded the alarm about the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria, bacteriophages once again came into the spotlight.

These are complex and unusual drugs; they have many unique manufacturing and pharmacological features, and many questions regarding their use still require clarification. However, today, many people in Western countries owe their lives to phages. As for the post-Soviet countries and Poland, research into the therapeutic properties of phages and their use has continued unabated, and they have accumulated vast experience in phage therapy and phage prophylaxis, which is of great value in the era of antibiotic resistance.

World Bacteriophage Week is also an important stage in preparation for World Antibiotic Awareness Week, which takes place annually from November 18 to 24.