Aerosol Phage Therapy Efficacy in Burkholderia cepacia Complex Respiratory Infections

Abstract

ABSTRACTPhage therapy has been suggested as a potential treatment for highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as the species of theBurkholderia cepaciacomplex (BCC). To address this hypothesis, experimentalB. cenocepaciarespiratory infections were established in mice using a nebulizer and a nose-only inhalation device. Following infection, the mice were treated with one of fiveB. cenocepacia-specific phages delivered as either an aerosol or intraperitoneal injection. The bacterial and phage titers within the lungs were assayed 2 days after treatment, and mice that received the aerosolized phage therapy demonstrated significant decreases in bacterial loads. Differences in phage activity were observedin vivo. Mice that received phage treatment by intraperitoneal injection did not demonstrate significantly reduced bacterial loads, although phage particles were isolated from their lung tissue. Based on these data, aerosol phage therapy appears to be an effective method for treating highly antibiotic-resistant bacterial respiratory infections, including those caused by BCC bacteria.