I would like to know peoples opinions on this :-

Can MRSA be treated with bacteria phages?
Phages are bacteria viruses which do not infect people.
The can evolve as fast (if not faster) than resistant strains of bacteria.
One dose could kill a whole wards worth of MRSA.
It works in a completely different manner to antibiotics. [1]

The Rusians ho could not afford antibiotics during WWII used this method to treat people with bacterial infections. [2]

[1] Virus could combat deadly bacteria in hospitals - LiveScience - MSNBC.com
[2] 'Red Army' virus to combat MRSA

So why the delay? Is it because there wouldn't be much profit in in for the drug companies? Afterall viruses are self replicating, wouldn't need to sell much for a complete cure. If anyone can think of a negative please post I really want to know why this is not being widely implemented.

Cheers

templelane

Seriously nobody cares about this? I was shocked when I heard about this and how nothing seems to be being done about it. I don't think it would take long to get through clinical trials seeing as it has been used safely for over 50 years in other countries. I feel like I'm missing something important.

J_9

I truly missed it. Sorry TL, it slipped by me.

It does indeed sound like a very interesting way to slow the spread of MRSA, I think, though, that due to the seriousness of the illness researchers are reluctant to try this. Here in the states 3 children have recently died after contracting MRSA, and the best drug of choice is currently vancomycin.

While it may have been used in other countries for many years, I know that I would not risk my child's life. Yes, my son had it this summer.

templelane

Hmm, didn't think of that. You're right I could see anyone willing to sign up to a double blind trial in a hurry... I beleive the general idea so far is to introduce the phages to cleaning products where they can lay dormant until they encounter a MRSA bacteria which they can infect and kill. No direct patient involvement.

Also why treat MRSA first- develope the technology in less dangerous bactera first. I would mind trying it for something like one of the cystitis causing bacteria, in the name of science. I bet you could pay people to infect a minor skin lesion then attempt to use this method to cure it. Just random thoughts. I think goverment/ charity funded acedemic research should run with this if 'big pharma' wont. Maybe it is already and I'm just behind...

J_9

I see your points, like the cleaning products, but MRSA is no longer a nosomial illness, as it was in the past. It now runs rampant in the general population. So, that would mean adding it to any product that can be purchased in any shelf. Hmmm, another way for big medicine to make some money?

I can tell you that I would not want to participate in a double blind study involving any kind of potentially dangerous bacteria. Yeah, you mention cystitis, but left untreated, or improperly treated, can lead to many different nephrotic disorders, some permanent.

Just my rambling thoughts. Good conversation though.

templelane

You wouldn't leave it completely untreated I'd probably give it a week or a couple of days. On second thoughts Cystitus was a bad choice as it would be too hard to monitor appropriately but I think a skin infection would do the trick. You would even be able to see if it was working by taking samples and looking to see it there were lysed bacteria under the microscope. As with any medication you change it if it doesn't work.

Luckily where I live MRSA hasn't escaped the hospital yet, I don't give it long though. I don't know whether it is appropriate to preform mass medication a la floride in the water. However there is very little you could do to stop a virus form spreading where the bacteria existed, which I suppose in this case would be a good thing.

I am very excited to see whether bacteriaphages can become the new antibiotics. At least it offers some hope where it was looking very dire before.

J_9

We NEED to concentrate on medication compliance. This is why these "bugs" got so strong. People take their meds until the symptoms go away, but the "bug" isn't gone, only the symptoms.

Non-compliance will eventually factor in to all illnesses, making more super bugs, not just MSRA.