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More on Phage Therapy How Does it Work? Bacteriophages attach to bacterial cells and inject their genome into the cell, which over time replaces the bacterial genome. This process stops the bacterial infection because the bacterial cells causing the infection can no longer replicate. Because phages are very precise and selective, they are very effective in treating certain strains of bacteria. Phages are currently used therapeutically to treat bacterial infections that do not respond to conventional antibiotics. Evaluation and Treatment Patients visiting the Eliava Institute should expect to stay two weeks for appropriate testing, analysis of results and treatment. First, a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s needs, medical history and other factors is performed. Tests are also performed to further determine the patient’s needs. Once the diagnosis is made, phage therapy begins. Phages are taken orally, usually twice daily on an empty stomach or two hours after eating. The phages come in small glass vials and taste a bit like mushrooms. Since phages are live viruses, they should be stored in the refrigerator to ensure their effectiveness. Generally, treatment is given in 3 phases, each lasting about 20 days, with a 2-week break. The treatment has no side effects, as phages kill a bacterium only when it matches the specific strain. The phages provided to the patient are from Eliava BioPreparations LTD, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures bacteriophages and produces and develops the phage therapies. Availability Phage therapy is not yet approved for patients in the United States and Europe because antibiotics are less expensive, patented and profitable, and readily available. Phage therapy, on the other hand, requires individual assessment and treatment. It is currently available in Georgia, Poland and Russia. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first clinical trial for intravenous phage therapy in the U.S. in 2019, and in 2020, the FDA will approve the first clinical trial for nebulized phage therapy. Cost The cost of phage therapy is approximately $4,000 to $5,000, which includes examinations, testing, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up consultations. Conclusion As antibiotic-resistant infections become more common, phage therapy offers an effective treatment for bacterial infections that has no reported side effects. It is uncommon in the West, but is commonly used in Georgia as part of medical care, especially in paediatrics, surgical procedures, intestinal issues, and infectious conditions. Contact New patients should contact EPTC by emailing the center at https://eptc.ge/contact with a brief explanation of their condition. They can expect a response within a few days, and most medical staff members speak English. Eliava Phage therapy Center Address: 3 Levan Gotua St, Tbilisi 0160 Home page: https://eptc.ge Phone: +995 32 272 86 86