Reinventing the fight against bacteria, one phage at a time.

“Treatment with bacteriophages can combat antibiotic-resistant infections, but Swiss patients lack access” It is not only antibiotics but also certain viruses – known as bacteriophages – that can kill off pathogenic bacteria. However, Switzerland lacks the legal framework for the use of these viruses in therapy. What would need to change so that more patients can benefit from this form of treatment? Researcher Alexander Harms explains.  Alexander Harms is Professor of Molecular Phage Biology. (Image: Montage Giulia Marthaler / Fabienne Estermann) Bacteriophages – or phages for short – are viruses that can infect and kill off bacteria. They are naturally present in their billions in our environment, as well as with bacteria in our intestines and on our skin. Physicians have been using phages to combat pathogenic bacteria for over 100 years. This form of treatment was – and continues to be – particularly widespread in Georgia. Following the discovery of antibiotics, phage therap...

Interview with Bassim Karaman on phage therapy Bassim Karaman recounts his medical journey after undergoing knee replacement surgery and developing an infection. Karaman was treated with phages at the Geneva University Hospitals, which most likely saved him from having to have his leg amputated. More information at https://forumphage.ch 0:00 What happened after the knee replacement 3:54 Living with an infection and no joint in his left knee 4:51 Dead end 5:46 The hope of phage therapy 6:24 Phage treatment 7:10 Effects of treatment 8:02 After phage treatment: one in two germs reappears 9:15 Three years later 10:35 But osteoarthritis remains 11:18 Is there a need for phage therapy?

Interview on phage therapy with Dr. Truong-Thanh Pham, HUG (French with subtitles) Infectious disease specialist Truong-Thanh Pham, from the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), tells us about the consequences of antibiotic resistance for his patients, phage therapy, and how he most likely prevented a patient (Bassim Karaman) from having to have his leg amputated using phages. Pham also discusses the current obstacles to phage therapy and ways to improve the situation. More information at https://phagenforum.ch/fr/ 0:00 What types of antibiotic resistance do you encounter in the clinic? 1:20 What does this mean for your patients with infected implants? 2:06 What is the impact on patients' quality of life? 2:46 Can you talk about Mr. Karaman, whom you treated with phages for an infected knee prosthesis? 3:37 What would have been the consequences for Mr. Karaman if no treatment had been effective? 4:18 How did the phage treatment go? 5:12 In your opinion, what are the str...

Marie-Cécile Ploy: Dealing with Resistant Bacteria J u st over a year ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its first report on resistance to antimicrobials, which include antibiotics. It considered it a serious threat that could strike anyone, anywhere in the world. A danger that French research – particularly Inserm – has been studying for several years, and of which researcher Marie-Cécile Ploy is one of the spearheads. Marie-Cécile Ploy, microbiologist, head of  Resinfit  – Antimicrobials: Molecular Supports of Resistances and Therapeutic Innovations (unit 1092 Inserm/ Limoges University/Limoges University Hospital), in Limoges.  ©Inserm/François Guénet How is antibiotic resistance a critical global issue? Marie-Cécile Ploy:  Antibiotic resistance is a real problem – and one to be tackled with the One health approach, because it affects humans, animals and the environment. Bacteria have no geographical frontiers and few species boundaries. There...

  AMR Action Fund: Changing our approach to antibiotics 9th July 2025 © shutterstock/PeopleImages.com - Yuri A Henry Skinner, PhD, CEO of the  AMR Action Fund , illustrates the true picture of the threat of AMR and explains how the Fund is working to change the way society values antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is evolving at a rapid pace and is becoming not only an increasing global health threat, but also has the potential to be a major economic burden. With this said, it is more important than ever for organisations, governments, and innovators across the globe to focus efforts and work collaboratively to eradicate the threat. Headquartered in the US, the AMR Action Fund is the world’s largest venture capital fund dedicated to investing in antimicrobial therapeutics. The Fund is designed to support companies developing potentially lifesaving antimicrobial therapeutics and was launched following conversations with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Ma...