BACTERIOPHAGES AS EFFECTIVE ANTIEPIDEMIC AGENTS FOR CONTROL OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION OUTBREAKS

Antibiotic resistance threatens the effective prevention and treatment of healthcare associated infections which are the most frequent adverse event in health-care settings worldwide. There is an urgent need to investigate alterative preventive and treatment options while there are still a few antibiotics left. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy has been championed as a promising alternative to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a therapeutic bacteriophages to control of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia outbreaks in newborn intensive care units. Materials and methods. Commercial bacteriophage cocktails targeting these paphogens was orally and locally given over 5 days to patients of neonatal intensive care units in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. Results. Bacteriophages were used as antimicrobial agents for control of three S.aureus outbreaks and one K.pneumonia outbreak. S.aureus infection incidence during the three outbreaks were 22.2%, 54.5% and 50.0% accordingly, and K.pneumoniae outbreak – 19.0%. After application of the phage cocktails among newborns, the incidence of infections caused by S.aureus and K. pneumoniae decreased to zero. All treatments were well tolerated. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion. Presented results clearly demonstrate high efficiency of bacteriophages. Phages have several features that make them potentially attractive antibacterial agents. Bacteriopahges are highly specific and very effective in destroying targeted bacteria, have only minimally impact on health-protecting normal flora bacteria, safe and rapidly modifiable to combat the emergence of newly arising bacterial threats.