Bacteriophage Therapy - Medical Applications

Bacteriophages (phages for short) can be produced in a highly specific and individualized way to treat the exact bacteria that is causing a problem. This is often referred to as "bacterium specific" phage treatment. Finding the correct phage treatment for your problem could be as simple as the swab test done for Strep throat!

Bacteriophage treatments are far ranging and multifaceted, as you can see from this partial list:

- Meat in the US is sometimes sprayed with phages. These specific bacteriophages can be made to kill Listeria, among other bacteria, is a way that does nothing to otherwise affect the product.

- Phage therapy is already used in people for the treatment of a many bacterial infections, such as conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, and infected surgical sites.

- Bacteriophage therapy has been used in dental practice as well, to address periodontitis and gingivitis

- Phage therapy can also be used by a dermatologist looking to help a patient rid him or herself of boils or other infections of the skin.

- Someday phage therapy may be used to treat staph infections, E. coli, and Strep. Perhaps even more exciting are phages potential in treating antibiotic resistant "superbugs" like MRSA.

- Bacteriophage treatments will likely also have a strong position in veterinary practice, for some of the same conditions as those that are listed above, plus animal specific bacterial problems.

Phage therapy obviously has an exciting future full of potential and possibility. This site will be updated with more information and current trends as often as is necessary.