"You are considered clinically and biologically cured," said Victoria Marshall as she read a text message from her doctor on the latest test results.The 72-year-old retired librarian began suffering from urinary infections when she was 65. It's one of the most common infections in the world affecting about one in four women over their lifetime. Marshall suffered from pain and with a nearly constant burning sensation that had her running to the nearest bathroom.
He had long been intrigued by phages as a potential tool in the fight against the growing spectre of antibiotic-resistant infections. It is a form of personalized medicine, says Dr. German."They're all targeted against E. coli ... drug-resistant E. coli that we couldn't get rid of any other way. Unless they were on daily IV antibiotics. And that's not a long-term solution," he added.
When doctors saw bacteria levels start to rise again shortly after the treatment, they administered a mild antibiotic that had not worked before. Doctors suspect phages may make treatment-resistant bacteria more vulnerable to standard antibiotics.