German Infectious Disease Society issues phage therapy guidelines

The German Society for Infectious Diseases has released its first set of guidelines for phage therapy, providing 60 recommendations for treating bacterial infections that are resistant to conventional antibiotics. Because bacteriophages are specialized viruses that target specific bacterial strains, the guidelines emphasize a personalized approach rather than a universal standard treatment.

Clinical data cited in the report, including a Belgian study of 100 cases, indicates a clinical improvement in approximately 70 percent of patients. The guidelines highlight encouraging results in treating resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. However, lead author Silvia Würstle of the Frankfurt University Hospital noted that phages are not a miracle cure, citing the need for precise selection and the risks of side effects.