Bacteriophage therapy: A potential solution to antibiotic resistance explore the use of viruses that specifically target bacteria as alternative treatments
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: The global emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has rendered numerous bacterial infections harder to treat, and with this, alternative solutions like bacteriophage therapy have been sought. Phages are viruses that selectively infect and kill bacteria, providing a very specific and dynamic solution against drug-resistant pathogens. This review systematically searched literature between the years 2000 and 2025 from databases like PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Evidence shows phage therapy to be effective, less disruptive to useful microbiota, and able to replicate within sites of infection. Clinical case histories substantiate its promise, especially where standard antibiotics have been unsuccessful. Limitations such as limited host range, phage resistance development, regulatory obstacles, and production hurdles persist. Improvements in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and targeted treatment strategies hold promise for surmounting these obstacles. The review here seeks to critically assess the clinical significance, therapeutic value, and limitations of bacteriophage therapy in order to determine major areas of potential future application against antibiotic-resistant infection.
Authors: Utkalika Mallick, Alisha Sinha, Kabita Chanania, Mahesh Chandra Sahu
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414046263