Bacteriophage Therapy as a Potential Management Option for Surgical Wound Infections
Lia Nadareishvili, Naomi Hoyle, Nata Nakaidze, Dea Nizharadze, Mzia Kutateladze, Nana Balarjishvili, Elizabeth Kutter, Nikoloz Pruidze
Abstract
To investigate the potential role of bacteriophages in the treatment of surgical infections, we conducted a retrospective analysis of four surgical patients who have sought treatment at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center, Tbilisi, Georgia. Two patients had chronic osteomyelitis, one presented with a diabetic foot ulcer, and the fourth patient had developed a severe infectious complication after skin grafting surgery. Patients were treated with different combinations of bacteriophage preparations, based on the sensitivity of the isolated bacterial strain toward commercially available bacteriophages. The treatment lasted on average for 1 month, and positive results were obtained in all four cases: the wounds have healed, the general health status of the patients has improved. No allergic or adverse reactions have been observed throughout the treatment.