Bacteriophage therapy: back to the future

Abstract

In connection with growing problem of antimicrobial resistance, the search for alternative treatments for infection is popular topic nowadays. This article represents an overview of published data on the therapeutic use of bacteriophages, specifically in urinary tract infections. The history of phage therapy of infectious diseases from the beginning of the 20th century to the present days is presented. The paper also discuss the mechanism of bacteriophages activity, differences between lytic and lysogenic phages, mechanisms of bacterial tolerance to phages and ways of its overcoming are. Authors present their own data on 30 years of clinical use of “bacteriophage cocktails” in the treatment and prevention of urological infection.