Combating AMR with Bacteriophages

India is among the countries with a high burden of antibiotic-resistant infections.

- Anusha Ashwin

It is known that India faces a significant challenge when it comes to antibiotic resistance and the menace of superbugs (largely owing to overuse and misuse of antimicrobials). Reports say that the economic impact of superbugs is significant in our country. Even in the United States, treating antibiotic-resistant infections costs an estimated $2.2 billion in extra healthcare expenses each year. These costs include longer hospital stays, additional testing, and more expensive medications.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warns that as these superbugs become more prevalent, our arsenal of effective antibiotics will become less potent. This makes routine medical procedures such as surgeries, chemotherapy, and organ transplants riskier due to the increased likelihood of infection.

This validates the immediate requirement as an alternative to antimicrobials and researchers trust their bet on bacteriophages as that alternative.

According to Rachna Dave, Founder & CEO of MicroGO, AMR is indeed a far more significant and pressing issue than it might initially appear, primarily due to underreporting. She says, "Estimates indicate that the toll of AMR could result in more than 10 million deaths by 2023. This looming crisis is exacerbated by the extremely limited availability of new antibiotics in the market, making it an incredibly challenging problem to address. In this dire context, bacteriophages are emerging as one of the most promising solutions to combat AMR infections. With the scarcity of effective antibiotics, bacteriophages offer a viable alternative. In India, there have been approximately 200 patients successfully treated with phage therapy, boasting an impressive success rate exceeding 80 per cent. This number is steadily increasing as more clinicians and infection prevention specialists embrace this innovative technology."

India - The land of abundant bacteriophages