Bacteriophages in the Age of Antibiotic Resistance: Therapeutic and Industrial Applications
TL;DR
The analysis indicates that phage therapy shows promising results, particularly for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, and offers a powerful alternative to traditional antimicrobials due to their specificity and environmental friendliness.
Abstract
The growing global threat of antibiotic resistance has necessitated research into alternative or complementary treatment methods. This study aims to demonstrate the current potential of bacteriophages (phages) in both clinical and industrial applications and to evaluate examples of their applications. Within the scope of the study, current scientific articles, clinical case reports, and legal regulations related to the subject were comprehensively reviewed. The analysis indicates that phage therapy shows promising results, particularly for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Success rates in personalized treatments and “compassionate use” programs were above 50%, with no serious side effects reported. In the industrial sector, phages stand out as effective “biocontrol agents” for food safety and aquaculture, controlling pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and Vibrio. In conclusion, phages offer a powerful alternative to traditional antimicrobials due to their specificity and environmental friendliness. However, for this potential to be realized on a global scale, regulatory uncertainties must be resolved and production standardization achieved.