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Science, Spoken

How a Virus Found in Wastewater Beat Back a Woman’s ‘Zombie’ Bacteria

May 23, 2024
Discover how phages are being used to treat bacterial infections when antibiotics fail, highlighting their precision and effectiveness. Explore the journey of phage therapy in a patient's infection, discussing challenges, bacterial resistance, and strategies to overcome resistance.
08:35

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Quick takeaways

  • Phage therapy offers promise in combating antibiotic-resistant infections by targeting specific bacteria.
  • Immune reactions and bacterial evolution can limit the effectiveness of phage therapy, requiring strategic dosing and monitoring.

Deep dives

Innovative Phage Therapy for Bacterial Infections

Enterococcus faecium bacteria presented a formidable challenge for Lin Cole's treatment, persisting despite various antibiotics. In a last resort effort, an experimental treatment called phage therapy was employed. Phages, viruses that selectively target bacteria, were used to combat the infection. Although phage therapy is not yet approved in certain regions, it has shown promise in treating antibiotic-resistant infections. The case of Lin Cole demonstrated both the potential and limitations of phage therapy in addressing persistent bacterial infections.

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