Publication Date
3-15-2022
Journal
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
DOI
10.1128/AAC.02071-21
PMID
35041506
PMCID
PMC8923208
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
3-15-2022
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Bacteriophages, Compassionate Use Trials, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Humans, Phage Therapy
Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance and medical device-related infections have led to a renewed interest in phage therapy as an alternative or adjunct to conventional antimicrobials. Expanded access and compassionate use cases have risen exponentially but have varied widely in approach, methodology, and clinical situations in which phage therapy might be considered. Large gaps in knowledge contribute to heterogeneity in approach and lack of consensus in many important clinical areas. The Antibacterial Resistance Leadership Group (ARLG) has convened a panel of experts in phage therapy, clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, and pharmacology, who worked with regulatory experts and a funding agency to identify questions based on a clinical framework and divided them into three themes: potential clinical situations in which phage therapy might be considered, laboratory testing, and pharmacokinetic considerations. Suggestions are provided as answers to a series of questions intended to inform clinicians considering experimental phage therapy for patients in their clinical practices.