Can Phage Therapy Solve the Problem of Recalcitrant Chronic Rhinosinusitis?

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) affects 5–15% of the global population. In some patients, the infectious exacerbations of the disease are recalcitrant to medical treatment and surgery. These cases are probably associated with the presence of bacterial biofilms. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy seems to be a promising antibiofilm strategy. The efficacy of phage therapy in sinonasal infections has been demonstrated both in vitro and in animal models. In the past, phage preparations were also administered to humans with CRS with favorable outcomes and no significant side effects. Very recently, the safety and efficacy of phage therapy in otolaryngological infections has been demonstrated in pioneer Phase I/II clinical trials. This review addresses the potential of phage therapy to treat CRS. We also discuss issues that require further research.

Keywords::

• bacteriophage
• biofilms
• chronic rhinosinusitis

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by grant DEC-2013/11/B/NZ1/02107 from National Center for Science (NCN) and statutory funds from the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences. A Górski, R Międzybrodzki and BW Dąbrowska are coinventors of patents owned by the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy and covering phage preparations. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grant DEC-2013/11/B/NZ1/02107 from National Center for Science (NCN) and statutory funds from the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences. A Górski, R Międzybrodzki and BW Dąbrowska are coinventors of patents owned by the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy and covering phage preparations. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.