Bacteriophage treatment of suppurative skin infections

Abstract

The study material comprised 31 patients with chronic suppurative infections of the skin caused by Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella, Proteus and Escherichia. Within 2-16 weeks of the treatment, an improvement of the general state was observed as well as suppression of the local inflammation, purification of a wound from the suppurative and necrotic content, faster healing of the ulcers and fully negative results of the bacteriologic tests. In 16 cases, an outstanding therapeutic effect was obtained, in 7 cases marked improvement was reported and in 2 a transitory improvement was reported. In 7 patients the treatment was abandoned due to the lack of improvement (1 case) or development of side effects (6 cases). The results obtained provide evidence for the high effectiveness of phage therapy in the treatment of suppurative skin infections.