PHAGE THERAPY IN CHILDREN WITH ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT INFECTIONS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Magda Skudzińska; Kamil Rajczyk; Magdalena Bartold; Julia Ceryn; Aleksandra Jaskulska; Filip Kochański; Katarzyna Kopeć; Janina Pohrybieniuk; Jan Pietrzak; Karolina Wołk

doi:10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4761

Authors

Magda Skudzińska Samodzielny Publiczny Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej w Wyszkowie, Wyszków, Mazovia, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8747-2562
Kamil Rajczyk Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Greater Poland, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3603-0706
Magdalena Bartold Maria Skłodowska-Curie Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, Zgierz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0863-167X
Julia Ceryn Independent Researcher, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6586-0763
Aleksandra Jaskulska Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8745-9593
Filip Kochański Maria Skłodowska-Curie Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, Zgierz, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4957-8566
Katarzyna Kopeć Independent Researcher, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4448-9341
Janina Pohrybieniuk Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-6880
Jan Pietrzak Clinic of Foundation "Swoboda", Głowno, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4177-5413
Karolina Wołk Pabianice Medical Center, Pabianice, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9871-4903

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.1(49).2026.4761

Keywords:

Phage Therapy, Antibiotic Resistance, Pediatric Infections, Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, Personalized Medicine, Bacteriophages

Abstract

Introduction: This systematic review explores the use of bacteriophage (phage) therapy in treating antibiotic-resistant infections in pediatric patients. With increasing global antibiotic resistance, especially in vulnerable populations such as children, phage therapy emerges as a targeted and adaptable alternative. The review synthesizes findings from clinical case reports, retrospective studies, and early-phase trials, focusing on the efficacy, safety, and application of personalized phage cocktails. Although further standardization is needed, the evidence supports phage therapy as a promising non-antibiotic strategy for managing resistant infections in children.

Aim of the Study: The aim of the study is to assess the clinical potential of phage therapy in pediatric patients suffering from infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) or extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria. The review focuses on evaluating treatment outcomes, safety considerations, and the logistical framework required for its implementation in hospital settings.

Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed and ScienceDirect using keywords such as “phage therapy”, “bacteriophages”, “antibiotic resistance”, “multidrug-resistant infections”, and “pediatric infectious diseases”. Selected studies included clinical trials, case reports, and expert reviews focusing on children treated with bacteriophages between 2015 and 2025.

Summary: This review highlights phage therapy as a viable adjunct or alternative to antibiotics in treating drug-resistant infections in children. Clinical outcomes suggest good tolerability and success in personalized treatments, particularly where antibiotics have failed. Although regulatory, production, and access barriers exist, the growing clinical experience and innovation in phage formulation suggest strong future potential in pediatric infectious disease care.

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