Bacteriophage-containing therapeutic agents
The present invention relates in its broadest aspect to combined phage/antibiotic therapy. More particularly, it relates to use of (i) one or more bacteriophages and (ii) one or more antibiotics in the manufacture of a combined product for simultaneous, separate or sequential administration of (i) and (ii) to treat a bacterial infection characterized by biofilm formation, for example an infection comprising or consisting of P. aeruginosa . Treatment in this context may be either therapeutic or prophylactic treatment. Also provided are deposited bacteriophages each exhibiting different strain specificity against P. aeruginosa and combinations of such bacteriophages, e.g. a panel of six deposited bacteriophages which was found to be effective against a high percentage of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from canine ear infections.
1. A method of treatment of a bacterial infection characterized by biofilm formation, wherein said bacterial infection comprises Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and wherein said method comprises:
(a) administering to a human or non-human animal in need thereof one or more bacteriophage preparations comprising bacteriophages NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178 and NCIMB 41179, wherein said bacteriophages target and kill said Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in the biofilm; and
(b) sequentially administering one or more antibiotics active against a bacterial species present in the biofilm, wherein said one or more antibiotics is administered after the bacteriophages have commenced replication in a targeted Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in the biofilm.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bacteriophages are employed in the form of a single combined bacteriophage preparation.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said combined bacteriophage preparation comprises a plurality of bacteriophages capable of infecting the Pseudomonas aeruginosa , each member of said plurality of bacteriophages having a different strain specificity.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said infection is an infection selected from infection of a skin burn or other skin wound, a lung infection, an ocular infection, an ear infection, a urinary infection or infection associated with a medical device or implant.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said infection is an ear infection.
6. A method of treatment of a bacterial infection characterized by biofilm formation, wherein said bacterial infection comprises Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and wherein said method comprises:
(a) administering to a human or non-human animal in need thereof one or more bacteriophage preparations comprising bacteriophages, wherein said one or more bacteriophages target and kill said Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in the biofilm; and
(b) sequentially administering one or more antibiotics active against a bacterial species present in the biofilm, wherein said one or more antibiotics is administered after the bacteriophages have commenced replication in a targeted Pseudomonas aeruginosa present in the biofilm,
wherein a panel of bacteriophages is employed consisting of NCIMB 41174, NCIMB 41175, NCIMB 41176, NCIMB 41177, NCIMB 41178, NCIMB 41179, and
said panel of bacteriophages is employed in the form of a single combined bacteriophage preparation for use in treating an ear infection.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein administration of said one or more antibiotics is delayed by at least one day after administration of said one or more bacteriophage preparations.