Phage therapy: Unexpected drawbacks to reach hospitals

Abstract

The use of phages to kill pathogenic bacteria is an old practice to cure infectious diseases. The current antibiotic crisis has boosted phage therapy research, but its application in hospitals is still very limited. Here, we analyze the problems that need to be solved to go forward with this renewed therapy, hoping that it can be useful for patients suffering from an incurable infection. We would like to emphasize that phage therapy is right now at a crossroads. This may be similar to what happened a century ago with the arrival of antibiotics, but now we do not have such a good alternative. Therefore, let us not waste this opportunity, even if a radical change in our health strategy is necessary.