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. 2020 Sep 1;1(3):158-165.
doi: 10.1089/phage.2020.0010. Epub 2020 Sep 16.

Bacteriophage Therapy as a Potential Management Option for Surgical Wound Infections

L Nadareishvili  1 , N Hoyle  1   2 , N Nakaidze  2 , D Nizharadze  1 , M Kutateladze  3 , N Balarjishvili  3 , E Kutter  2 , N Pruidze  1
Affiliations

Bacteriophage Therapy as a Potential Management Option for Surgical Wound Infections

L Nadareishvili et al. Phage (New Rochelle). .

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.

Keywords: Eliava; antibiotic resistance; bacteriophage; phage therapy; surgical infections; wound healing.

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Conflict of interest statement

LN, NH, DN, and NP are paid employees of the EPTC, but otherwise have no financial interest in phage therapy. Remaining authors do not have any relevant competing interests or disclosures.

Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
(a) The image was taken on admission. Two purulent fistulas are seen in the sternal bone. The diameter of the upper fistula is 0.6 cm and the diameter of the lower fistula is 0.4 cm. (b) Postbacteriophage treatment, the fistulas have closed and there is no purulent exudate.
FIG. 2
FIG. 2
(a) Pretreatment, the skin on the bone is markedly red, delicate, and fragile. (b) Purulent ulcer is visible. (c) Post-treatment, the color of the skin has changed from red to pink. The ulcer has filled in completely.
FIG. 3
FIG. 3
(a) Before treatment, on the left toe, diabetic foot ulcer is seen. The wound is 5 cm in diameter. (b) Catheter is placed into the ulcer for direct application of phages into the tissue. (c) Six weeks after treatment; the size of the wound reduced to 2 cm by 1.8 cm. (d) Postbacteriophage therapy, the ulcer has filled in completely and the wound has closed.
FIG. 4
FIG. 4
(a) Pretreatment, on the upper half of the left thigh, there is a 15 × 25 cm superficial bleeding wound. (b) Postbacteriophage treatment, the wound on the left thigh has closed completely. (c) Pretreatment, on the upper right thigh: 15 × 25 cm superficial bleeding wound. (d) Postbacteriophage treatment, the wound on the right thigh has closed completely.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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