Phage therapy: resurrecting a historical solution for the contemporary challenge of rising antibiotic resistance in Latin America.

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance in Latin America is a growing concern in both human and non-human animal populations. The economic burden that is likely to be imposed through increased resistance will cause further strains on public health systems and the population at large.

Areas covered: We propose the rapid adoption and implementation of phage therapy as a necessary addition to the medical arsenal to help mitigate antimicrobial resistance, with an emphasis on considering the potential benefits that highly biodiverse countries such as Ecuador may have on phage discovery. However, programs may count on limited government support and/or facilitation, which could slow progress.

Expert opinion: We highlight the need for educational campaigns to be implemented in parallel with the development of phage therapy programs, particularly to implement these novel treatments in rural and indigenous communities.