Is phage therapy acceptable for chronic Lyme disease?

From the Guidelines

Phage therapy is not a widely accepted treatment for chronic Lyme disease, as its efficacy and safety have not been established through rigorous clinical trials 1.

Current Standard Treatment

Currently, the standard treatment for chronic Lyme disease involves a combination of antibiotics, such as doxycycline (100mg twice daily for 4-6 weeks) or amoxicillin (500mg three times daily for 4-6 weeks), and supportive care.

Phage Therapy Considerations

The use of phage therapy, which involves the administration of bacteriophages such as Streptococcus phage or Borrelia phage, is still considered experimental and requires further investigation to determine its potential benefits and risks in the treatment of chronic Lyme disease.

• The recommended antimicrobial regimens for treatment of patients with Lyme disease are outlined in tables 2 and 3 of the clinical practice guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1.
• The guidelines recommend against the use of certain antibiotics, such as first-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems, due to lack of efficacy or potential harm to the patient 1.
• The treatment of Lyme arthritis usually involves antimicrobial agents administered orally, with doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil recommended for 28 days 1.
• Patients who have persistent or recurrent joint swelling after a recommended course of oral antibiotic therapy may require re-treatment with another 4-week course of oral antibiotics or with a 2–4-week course of intravenous ceftriaxone 1.

Key Points

• Phage therapy is not currently recommended for the treatment of chronic Lyme disease.
• The standard treatment for chronic Lyme disease involves a combination of antibiotics and supportive care.
• Further research is needed to determine the potential benefits and risks of phage therapy in the treatment of chronic Lyme disease.

From the Research

Phage Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease

• Phage therapy has been explored as a potential treatment for chronic Lyme disease, with studies suggesting its effectiveness in eliminating the infection 2.
• The use of Induced Native Phage Therapy (INPT) has shown promising results, with 92% of patients achieving negative test results for Borrelia species after treatment 2.
• Phage therapy has several advantages, including its ability to target specific bacteria without harming beneficial microbiota, making it a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics [(3,4,5)].

Mechanism of Phage Therapy

• Phages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria, and can be used to target specific bacterial strains [(3,4,5)].
• The mechanism of phage therapy involves the use of phages to infect and kill bacteria, with the phages then replicating and spreading to other bacterial cells [(3,4,5)].
• Phage therapy can be used to treat a range of bacterial infections, including those caused by antibiotic-resistant strains [(3,4,5)].

Challenges and Limitations

• One of the challenges of phage therapy is the potential for the development of phage-specific antibodies, which can reduce the effectiveness of treatment 6.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the role of phage-specific antibodies in phage therapy and to develop strategies to overcome this challenge 6.
• The use of phage therapy is still a relatively new and emerging field, and more studies are needed to fully establish its safety and efficacy [(2,3,4,5,6)].