Bacteriophages: a new weapon against antibiotic resistance

Abstract

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses one of the most significant threats to global public health, with projections indicating 10 million annual deaths by 2050 if left unchecked. As traditional antibiotics lose efficacy against resistant bacterial strains, bacteriophages—nature's bacteria-killing viruses—offer a promising alternative therapeutic approach. This review examines the potential of phage therapy in combating antibiotic-resistant infections, highlighting key advantages including high specificity, minimal disruption to beneficial microbiota, self-replication at infection sites, and co-evolutionary potential with bacterial targets. Recent clinical successes, including the landmark treatment of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection, demonstrate the therapeutic viability of personalized phage cocktails. However, significant challenges remain, including regulatory frameworks, manufacturing complexities, and limited host range specificity. Future directions encompass engineered phages, combination therapies, prophylactic applications, and phage-derived lysins. While not a panacea, bacteriophage therapy represents a crucial tool in our evolving antimicrobial arsenal, offering hope in the post-antibiotic era through innovative approaches to bacterial infection management.