Bacteriophage Therapy as a Potential Management Option for Surgical Wound Infections

Phage (New Rochelle). 2020 Sep 1;1(3):158-165. doi: 10.1089/phage.2020.0010. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

Abstract

To investigate the potential role of bacteriophages in the treatment of surgical infections, we conducted a retrospective analysis of four surgical patients who have sought treatment at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center, Tbilisi, Georgia. Two patients had chronic osteomyelitis, one presented with a diabetic foot ulcer, and the fourth patient had developed a severe infectious complication after skin grafting surgery. Patients were treated with different combinations of bacteriophage preparations, based on the sensitivity of the isolated bacterial strain toward commercially available bacteriophages. The treatment lasted on average for 1 month, and positive results were obtained in all four cases: the wounds have healed, the general health status of the patients has improved. No allergic or adverse reactions have been observed throughout the treatment.

Keywords: Eliava; antibiotic resistance; bacteriophage; phage therapy; surgical infections; wound healing.