Is phage therapy better than antibiotics?
Phage therapy has fewer side effects than antibiotics. On the other hand, most antibiotics have a much wider host range. Some antibiotics can kill a wide range of bacterial species at the same time. The human immune system sometimes recognizes phages as “foreigners” and try to kill them.
What diseases use phage therapy?
To give but a few examples, phages have been reported to be effective in treating staphylococcal lung infections (22, 33), P. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients (50), eye infections (43), neonatal sepsis (38), urinary tract infections (40), and surgical wound infections (39, 41).
Has the FDA approved phage therapy?
No form of phage therapy is currently FDA approved, so it can only be used in emergency, experimental, or compassionate use cases.
Where can I buy phage therapy?
If you’re unable to travel or would like to pursue phage therapy at your local medical center: You’ll need to find a doctor who is willing to provide phage therapy (this should be done by first speaking with your own family physician or infectious disease specialist).
What is the cost of phage therapy?
Phage therapy is not clinically available in the United States, so those who are interested in phage therapy must travel to a clinic abroad or enroll in a clinical trial. The Phage Therapy Center in Georgia offers treatment to patients all around the world for about $3,000-$5,000, depending on the treatment.
Will phage therapy replace antibiotics?
Phages most likely will never replace antibiotics completely; however, they will be valuable in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. Antibiotics will still remain the main treatment for the majority of infections, especially the acute ones, for a long time.
How do I get phage therapy?
Can you buy bacteriophages?
Buying phages over the internet is legal from most countries provided the purchase complies with the conditions indicated on this website when buying bacteriophages by mail order (Option 3). Before buying a bacteriophage, it makes sense to identify the corresponding germ with an antibiotic susceptibility.
Is phage therapy covered by insurance?
Is phage therapy covered by my insurance? It depends on your insurance company. Many insurance companies — if the costs of treatment are lower than those via traditional medical services — will reimburse most or all costs associated with treatment, including air fare and lodging.
Where can I buy bacteriophage therapy?
How much do bacteriophages cost?
The Phage Therapy Center in Georgia offers treatment to patients all around the world for about $3,000-$5,000, depending on the treatment. This cost, however, does not include travel, lodging, or additional expenses for tests on bacterial samples.