Experimental phage therapy against haematogenous multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in mice
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Date
2016
Authors
Oduor, Joseph M. Ochieng’
Onkoba, Nyamongo
Maloba, Fredrick
Nyachieo, Atunga
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
Background: Community-acquired haematogenous Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia is a rare
infection, though it can be acquired nosocomially. Currently, antibiotics used against S. aureus
pneumonia have shown reduced efficacy. Thus, there is need for an alternative therapy against
multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) strains in the community.
Objective: We sought to determine the efficacy of environmentally-obtained S. aureus lytic
phage against haematogenous MDRSA pneumonia in mice.
Methods: Phages and MDRSA were isolated from sewage samples collected within Nairobi
County, Kenya. Isolated S. aureus bacteria were screened for resistance against ceftazidime,
oxacillin, vancomycin, netilmicin, gentamicin, erythromycin, trimethroprim-sulfamethoxazole
and cefuroxime. Thirty BALB/c mice aged six to eight weeks were randomly assigned into
three groups: the MDRSA-infection group (n = 20), the phage-infection group (n = 5) and the
non-infection group (n = 5). Mice were infected with either MDRSA or phage (108 CFU/mL)
and treated after 72 hours with a single dose of clindamycin (8 mg/kg/bwt) or 108 PFU/mL
of phage or a combination therapy (clindamycin and phage). The efficacy of phage, clindamycin
or clindamycin with phage combination was determined using resolution of lung pathology
and bacterial load in lung homogenates.
Results: The viable MDRSA count was 0.5 ± 0.2 log10 CFU/gm in the phage-treated group,
4.4 ± 0.2 log10 CFU/gm in the clindamycin-treated group and 4.0 ± 0.2 log10 CFU/gm in the
combination-treated group. The efficacy of phage therapy was significantly different from
other therapeutic modes (p = 0 < 0.0001). Histology showed that the mice treated with phage
did not develop pneumonia.
Conclusion: Phage therapy is effective against haematogenous MDRSA infection. Thus, it can
be explored as an alternative treatment method.
Description
Research Paper
Keywords
Citation
Ochieng’ Oduor JM, Onkoba N, Maloba F, Nyachieo A. Experimental phage therapy against haematogenous multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in mice. Afr J Lab Med. 2016;5(1), a435. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/ajlm. v5i1.435