Conflict With the Resistance
THE ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
Alternative Therapies
In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the development of new antibiotic drugs are not nearly enough to combat drug resistance and act as an alternative to already ineffective medications. In their report, only 33 out of 51 new antibiotics is shown to be effective against resistant bacteria that is of global priority. Of those 33 antibiotics, only eight are said to be new enough to be beneficial. The other 25 are modifications to already existing treatments that will ultimately be temporary solutions. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, had said, “There is an urgent need for more investment in research and development for antibiotic-resistant infections including [tuberculosis], otherwise we will be forced back to a time when people feared common infections and risked their lives from minor surgery.”
Phage Therapy
Bacteriophages have evolved to target a specific bacterial host while sparing non-targeted bacteria, keeping the beneficial microbiota alive. Once a phage binds to a host bacterial cell, it replicates itself which causes the bacterium to burst, releasing the remaining phages to spread and kill bacteria in the vicinity. When there's none of the targeted bacteria for the phages to infect, it is naturally removed by the body.
Phages have been gradually gaining interest from scientists who hope to use it as an alternative therapy to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. It is a biological that kills bacteria and have been successfully used against bacterial infections since its discovery about 100 years ago. Serious phage therapy side effects have not been reported to date, showing its potential as an alternative treatment. Many recent success stories have highlighted the effectiveness of the usage of phages such as:
In 2009, results from the first placebo-controlled, double-blind human clinical trial using therapeutic phages were published. It shows that phages used against P. aeruginosa bacteria (causes urinary tract infections) in chronic otitis led to a decrease in bacterial counts and significantly improved symptoms compared to a placebo group, with no treatment-related side effects.
In 2013 the European Commission started a therapeutic trial for treating burn wounds with phages called PhagoBurn. Phages that were applied at a specific area of the body successfully decreased the bacteria count. Even though it worked at a slower pace than the standard of care treatment, sulfadiazine silver emulsion cream, the phages caused less side effects.
A 2018 well-documented case shows the treatment of Tom Patterson, who was infected with a multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (causes lung, blood, and brain infections) strain during a trip to Egypt, with phages. Using about 100 phages from both the US Navy phage library at Texas A&M University and AmpliPhi Biosciences, the treatment was well tolerated and the patient's life was saved.
Elizabeth Kutter, a strong advocate of phage therapy, is pushing to treat diabetic foot ulcers that are often infected with MRSA strains or other multidrug resistant bacteria with phages. A publication from 2016 shows nine patients with a MRSA infection who were unresponsive to antibiotics successfully treated with a staphylococcal phage.
While no phage therapeutic approach has been approved for human use in the United States or the European Union, the following necessities can be implemented to hasten the increase of accessible therapies.
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​Since the meeting the demands for present-day guidelines may take many years, authorities need less strict regulations in the meantime.
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There is a need for well-characterized phages with a targeted host that is specifically defined. Physicians should also be familiarized with information on phage banks.
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Phages should be prepared with the help of experts from selected authorized pharmacies.
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Politicians need to be aware of and support such efforts in order to achieve a fast interim solution and make political decisions required to do so.
Reactive Oxygen Technology
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) is a naturally-occurring defense against infection. ROS kill bacteria by physically disrupting its cell structures, like proteins, DNA and cell membranes. Using observations of the effect of ROS in nature, Matoke Holdings Ltd invented a new technology that precisely control its ability to fight infection. The technology accurately administers low but effective levels of hydrogen peroxide to the place of infection over a period of time.
University of Birmingham researchers are teaming with British biotech company, Matoke Holdings Ltd, to research strategies to treat infections using their Reactive Oxygen technology. It has already reached early clinical use in wound care and can eliminate the deadliest drug-resistant bacteria while also being safe to use on human tissue. Ian Staples, founder and CEO of Matoke Holdings Ltd, had said, "No Gram-positive, Gram-negative or multi-drug resistant bacteria has survived contact with this safe and effective technology."
