Public Health Safety of Bacteriophages: Phage Therapy – Everything Old is New Again

Hirde VN 1 , Kaore MP 2 and Kalambhe DG 3

1Assist. Prof., Dept. of Veterinary Public Health, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur, Raj- 302031 2 PhD Scholar, Dept. of Veterinary Pathology, IVRI, Izatnagar-243122 (UP) 3 PhD Scholar, School of Veterinary Public health, GADVASU, Ludhiana-141001 (Punjab)

Abstract :

Bacteriophages or phages are bacterial viruses that invade bacterial cells and, in the case of lytic phages, disrupt bacterial metabolism and cause the bacterium to lyse. Bacterial infections are among the major indices of health hazard threatening public health and welfare. They are the leading cause of starvation and death the world over. Several methodologies were applied to combat the menace among which are the use of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, probiotics, and other preventive measures. Ironically, despite all the advancements in technological know-how and high medical-care, these methodologies have adverse side effects and drug resistant strains of bacteria are increasing at an alarming rate due to over-prescription and misuse of drugs. The consequent effect of which poses a threat to modern medicine that if care is not taken, untreatable bacterial infections might soon reach a point beyond control; which would subsequently lead to the re-emergence of diseases with fatal consequences.