Phage therapy

Get the book "The Perfect Predator". It was written by an Epidemiologist about the jouney with her
husband. Good history of phage going back to the 1950's in Russia and why American doctors
abandoned it based on erroneous logic. Sad.
Harry

https://www.statnews.com/2024/02/20/phage-therapy-research-antibiotic-resistance/

What kinds of infections does IPATH treat?

Currently, IPATH is prioritizing serious multidrug-resistant bacterial infections that are associated with the following conditions: life- or limb-threatening bacterial infections, mycobacterial infections, complicated urinary tract infections, organ transplantation and implantable hardware, such as cardiac devices or joint replacements.

Phage therapy may not be an appropriate option if a patient has cultured multiple bacteria over time. If it is difficult for physicians to determine which bacteria is causing the disease or if multiple are in play, phage therapy is likely not an option. At present, it is not feasible to find and prepare phages for multiple bacteria that may or may not be causing disease, as a large amount of time and energy are needed to find and prepare each phage.

https://www.pitt.edu/pittwire/features-articles/pitt-researchers-led-largest-ever-series-bacteriophage-therapy-case-studies
In addition, the team saw that some patients’ immune systems attacked the viruses, but only in a few cases did their immune systems render the virus ineffective. And in some instances, the treatment was still successful despite such an immune reaction. The study paints an encouraging picture for the therapy, said Hatfull, and one that opens the possibility for new phage regimens that clinicians could use to maximize the treatment’s chance of success.

Along with the study’s significance to patients facing Mycobacterium infections, it also represents a substantial advance for the wider field of phage therapy. A concern in some corners is that researchers may be only publishing case studies in which phage therapy is successful.

I wonder how many of you were treated effectively by antibiotics for cavity nodule? My doctor says that most of the patients with cavity were effectively treated by antibiotics for a year, and their cavity were closed.

If Belgium does not accept me, I would go for antibiotics next month, as my cavity is enlarging a little bit in the past six months.

Thanks for any input!!

https://www.upmc.com/media/news/021424-phage-therapy
In order to learn why the infections recurred despite the combination being previously effective, laboratory testing revealed that the patient’s immune system had likely activated in a way that blocked the phages from attacking the bacteria. Van Tyne and Stellfox suspect that either the addition of the second phage or the increased dose of the phage combination – or both – had prompted the immune response.

“What we learned from this patient and her allowing us to follow and document her medical journey will help future patients,” said Van Tyne. “Phage therapy could be a powerful tool against the ever-growing threat of antibiotic resistance and the data from her case will help shape clinical trials that could one day make it widely available to patients in need.”

Questions for Belgium - thanks for all the inputs!!
1) MAC is a group of bacteria, are you able to identify how many bacteria in my MAC? How does phage work ? Do you develop multiple virus to attack different strains of bacteria. Or you just use one virus to attack this group of bacteria? How long does it take to develop one virus, what is the cost?

2) If the immune systems were stimulated, will it make phage ineffective? I've seen cases that phage became ineffective after 6 months and the patient died. If there any side effects for phage therapy?

3) Have you ever treated any other patient with NTM-MAC and how effective is phage therapy?

Great questions! I look forward to hearing their answers.

Good luck with the interview Helen ! Great questions.

Last week at the NYU Langone bronchiectasis and NTM patient conference, Dr. Doreen Addrizzo Harris mentioned that this year they will be participating in a trial for phage therapy and pseudomonas.
When I have more details, I will be sure to share them.
Linda Esposito