Development of Phage Cocktails to Treat E. coli Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection and Associated Biofilms

This study addresses the challenge of treating Escherichia coli catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), which are difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation. The researchers developed phage cocktails, which are mixtures of viruses that infect and kill bacteria, to target E. coli strains isolated from patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who have strong biofilm-forming properties. These phage cocktails were shown to be effective against both young and old biofilms, as well as biofilms on silicon catheter materials, suggesting their potential as a therapeutic option against CAUTI.

• 1
  Nine phages were identified that individually decreased cell viability by >80% when added to biofilms of two E. coli strains in human urine.
• 2
  A phage cocktail comprising six phages lyses 82% of the strains in the E. coli library and is highly effective against young and old biofilms and against biofilms on silicon catheter materials.
• 3
  Using antibiotics together with the phage cocktail prevented or decreased the emergence of E. coli resistant to phage in human urine.