Bacteriophages and their use in combating antimicrobial resistance

Bacteriophages, natural viruses that selectively target and kill bacteria, are crucial in regulating bacterial populations and influencing microbial ecosystems. Phages can destroy bacteria resistant to drugs like antibiotics, and their therapy could be a promising tool for controlling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global public health and development threat. AMR is responsible for 133,000 deaths annually in the European Region and costs €11.7 billion annually. Phages offer biologically innovative approaches to AMR, ranging from therapeutic use in humans and animals to potentially replacing antibiotic use in agriculture.