Bacteria-eating Virus – a Counter to Superbug

Hospital superbug MRSA haunts the West a lot these days. With the conventional antibiotics losing their efficacy, some suggest that bacteriophage, treatment through bacteria-eating virus could be a sensible option.

Initiated in the erstwhile Soviet Union during the Second World War, the bacteriophage is used as standard treatment in parts of Eastern Europe for bacterial infections from gangrene to strep throat.

Consequent on overuse, many bacteria have become bacteria- resistant. Drug firms are also reluctant to bring new brands onto the market. It can cost as much as £400m ($800m) to develop the drug and take as long as ten years, it is pointed out.

Meantime MRSA seems to be outfoxing healthcare authorities. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin.

The organism Staphylococcus aureus is found on many individuals skin and seems to cause no major problems. However if it gets inside the body, for instance under the skin or into the lungs, it can cause important infections such as boils or pneumonia.

Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems.

MRSA infections that are acquired by persons who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as CA-MRSA infections.