Phage therapy: a promising approach for Staphylococcus aureus diabetic foot infections

Abstract

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs), predominantly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, pose a significant healthcare challenge with severe consequences, including amputation. Phage therapy, which utilizes bacteriophages to specifically target bacterial pathogens, has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments. This review evaluates the efficacy of phage therapy as a complementary treatment for DFIs caused by S. aureus, synthesizing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies while addressing the limitations and challenges associated with current research. The analysis highlights promising results from diabetic animal models, demonstrating effective bacterial load reduction and improved wound healing. Clinical case reports and series further underline significant improvements in infection management and ulcer healing, with no major adverse effects reported. Ongoing clinical trials are also discussed, offering insights into the study parameters evaluating phage therapy potential efficacy and safety for S. aureus-related DFIs. While the collected data highlight the potential of phage therapy as a valuable complement to traditional antibiotic treatments, particularly in managing antibiotic-resistant infections, further research is essential to address existing limitations, including gaps in long-term efficacy data and challenges in standardization. With continued investigation, phage therapy holds significant potential to alleviate the healthcare burden of DFIs and improve patient outcomes.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; animal models; bacteriophages; clinical cases; clinical trials; diabetic foot infections; phage therapy.