Ochieng’ Oduor, Joseph MichaelOnkoba, NyamongoMaloba, FredrickArodi, Washingtone OumaNyachieo, Atunga2017-03-172017-03-172016J Infect Dev Ctries 2016; 10(11):1208-1213. doi:10.3855/jidc.79312036-6590http://www.jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/27886033/1616http://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/15430Research ArticleIntroduction: The use of bacteriophages as an alternative treatment method against multidrug-resistant bacteria has not been explored in Kenya. This study sought to determine the efficacy of environmentally obtained lytic bacteriophage against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) bacterium in mice. Methodology: Staphylococcus aureus bacterium and S. aureus-specific lytic phage were isolated from sewage and wastewater collected within Nairobi County, Kenya. Thirty mice were randomly assigned into three groups: MDRSA infection group (n = 20), phage-infection group (n = 5), and non-infection group (n = 5). The MDRSA infection group was further subdivided into three groups: clindamycin treatment (8 mg/kg; n = 5), lytic phage treatment (108 PFU/mL (n = 5), and a combination treatment of clindamycin and lytic phage (n = 5). Treatments were done at either 24 or 72 hours post-infection (p.i), and data on efficacy, bacterial load, and animal physical health were collected. Results: Treatment with phage was more effective (100%) than with clindamycin (62.25% at 24 hours p.i and 87.5% at 72 hours p.i.) or combination treatment (75% at 24 hours p.i. and 90% at 72 hours p.i.) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results show that the environmentally obtained S. aureus lytic bacteriophage has therapeutic potential against MDRSA bacterium in mice.enMDRSAEfficacyPhage therapyWaste and sewage waterArticle