Projects

Acinetobacter baumannii, a substantial nosocomial pathogen, has developed resistance to almost all available
antimicrobial drugs. Bacteriophage therapy is a possible alternative treatment for multidrug-resistant (MDR)
bacterial infections. In this study, we have successfully isolated bacteriophage active against clinical strains of A.
baumannii by enrichment from hospital sewage sludge using representatives of those strains. The bacteriophage
isolated against A. baumannii formed plaques against beta-lactamases producing strains of A. baumannii. The utility
of bacteriophage specific for A. baumannii to resolve wound infection in uncontrolled diabetic rats was evaluated.
Five groups of uncontrolled diabetic rats were used. Group I was noninfected (Control), Group II was infected with
MDR A. baumannii and challenged with bacteriophage, Group III was infected with MDR A. baumannii, Group IV
was infected with MDR A. baumannii and challenged with antibiotic colistin, and Group V consisted of noninfected
rats and sprayed with phage (Phage control). A significant decrease in infection, period of epithelization, and wound
contraction was observed in the phage-challenged group when compared with antibiotic-treated uncontrolled
diabetic rats and the control group. To conclude the study, new insights are provided into the biology of the broad
host range of A. baumannii phage, demonstrating that A. baumannii phage has prospects for the treatment of
infections caused by the MDR A. baumannii.