Phagotherapy: an emerging alternative in the antibiotic multiresistance era

Abstract

The rising antimicrobial resistance associated with the crisis in new antibiotics production and the human and economic consequences of this phenomenon constitute a complex scenario that requires the urgent development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and lyse bacteria. They have been known for over a century but in the last two decades, phage administration has gained popularity worldwide. There is an extensive body of preclinical and clinical evidence that positions phage therapy as one of the main tools for the treatment of difficult-to-treat infections. Although this is conceptually promising, its implementation is limited by the paucity of clinical data on safety and efficacy, obtained according to current scientific standards. This review describes the most relevant data on phage biology, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic aspects known to date, regulatory issues, and the most relevant clinical results.