‘Superbugs’ might have found their match: Bacteriophages can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria

By Ana María Rodríguez, Ph.D.

Contribution participating in the INPST 2018 Science Communication Awards contest.

Envision the following possible future clinical scenario: a patient in a hospital develops an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection that is untreatable or only treatable with the most toxic of antibiotics. During the 48 hours it takes to identify the bacterial species and strain, physicians and scientists also screen a library of bacterium-killing viruses at hand, select those that are effective against this antibiotic-resistant bacterial strain and mix a personalized cocktail of phages to successfully treat the patient.

Bacteriophages can infect and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Courtesy of Scott Holmes
Bacteriophages can infect and kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Courtesy of Scott Holmes

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