Antibiotic resistance: the crazy project of the Hospices Civils de Lyon against superbugs

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Antibiotic resistance: the crazy project of the Hospices Civils de Lyon against superbugs

Antibiotic resistance: the crazy project of the Hospices Civils de Lyon against superbugs
By Camille Dubois Health Journalist

Antibiotic resistance is now reaching proportions unimaginable even twenty years ago. Every year, doctors see the emergence of infections that they once struggled to treat due to a lack of effective drugs. Faced with this impasse, researchers are exploring other avenues. Among them, an old method is making a comeback: phage therapy. The idea seems simple, almost elegant: using viruses that attack only bacteria. In Lyon, a team recently published encouraging results, suggesting a credible alternative to conventional treatments.

An out-of-control phenomenon

The figures are stark. According to the World Health Organization, more than 23 million infections have been recorded in 104 countries. And the findings are stark: one in six bacterial infections no longer responds to standard antibiotics. Some molecules, once essential, have become almost useless. In just a few years, some have seen their resistance rate climb by more than 40%. Since 2018, the increase has remained constant, between 5 and 15% per year. Suffice it to say, the phenomenon is no longer a passing incident.

The future is worrying. If the trend continues, deaths linked to "superbugs" could jump by 70% by 2050. Common infections could become deadly again, especially in fragile regions such as Southeast Asia or parts of Africa. Two names keep coming up: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. More than 40% of E. coli infections and more than half of those due to K. pneumoniae are already resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, a key treatment in severe cases.

Breathless treatments

The pharmaceutical pipeline is virtually dry. Few new molecules are reaching the market, and in many countries, surveillance systems are underfunded. "Many countries don't really know which strains are circulating in their countries," laments Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director of the WHO. This lack of transparency delays responses in the event of a local epidemic and complicates the implementation of targeted strategies.

Faced with this obstacle, research is turning to other approaches. Phage therapy, long considered archaic, is finding an unexpected place in laboratories. In Lyon, several teams are working on these natural viruses capable of infecting only certain bacteria. In the laboratory, for example, researchers are observing how phages can neutralize golden staphylococci without affecting human cells. This form of surgical precision is increasingly attracting infectious disease specialists.

This technique is nothing new. In the countries of the former USSR, it has been used for decades, often in places where antibiotics were scarce. In Western Europe, it is gradually making a comeback, this time with strict protocols and supervised clinical trials. Researchers see it less as a revolution than as a complement to current medicine, one more tool to counter the erosion of antibiotics.

A fragile but real hope

Everyone agrees: phages alone won't save the situation. The WHO emphasizes the need for a global approach, including better surveillance, faster diagnostic tools, and ambitious research programs. Without international coordination, the risk is of losing even more ground. Phage therapy, however, represents a long-term gamble. If it proves effective, it could become one of the pillars of the fight against antibiotic resistance. But for now, the watchwords remain the same: vigilance and patience.


Taken from, copyright belongs to: https://medicaments.passeportsante.net/actualites/resistance-aux-antibiotiques-projet-fou-hospices-civils-lyon-contre-superbacteries

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