Opinion Article Open Access

Phage Therapy: Revisiting an Old Strategy to Combat Modern Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Bacteriophage therapy, the use of viruses that specifically infect bacteria, has re‑emerged as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics in the face of rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Originally discovered in the early 20th century, phage therapy was largely abandoned in Western medicine with the advent of antibiotics but continued to be applied in parts of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Renewed scientific interest, driven by increasing rates of multidrug‑resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and advances in genomics, molecular biology, and delivery technologies, has reinvigorated research into therapeutic phages and engineered phage products. This mini‑review summarizes the history, mechanisms of action, clinical applications, challenges, and future directions of phage therapy, emphasizing its potential to complement or even replace antibiotics in select contexts. Although significant hurdles remain — including regulatory frameworks, host immune responses, and production standardization — phage therapy represents a viable, adaptable tool in the global effort to manage resistant bacterial infections.

Tomasz Kowalski

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