Phages — viruses that bypass human cells in favor of targeting and infecting bacteria — are being explored more and more as a potential weapon in the battle against aggressive, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. One of the latest tests of bacteriophage efficacy demonstrated the virus' ability to eliminate Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria from both hard surface and fabrics.
The researchers found that using phages on samples of MRSA produced a significant reduction in colony forming units of the bacteria, according the paper, published in the journal PLOS ONE.
"Our findings suggest that phage treatment can be used as an effective tool to decontaminate human MRSA from both hard surfaces and fabrics," the authors wrote.
MRSA, which is typically resistant to many widely available antibiotics, is capable of causing serious disease and death in humans. To date, the Provo, Utah-based Brigham Young University researchers have identified six types of phages that are effective against MRSA.