Information from the abstract
Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs)—increasingly due to multidrug-resistant organisms—affect up to half of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in the first year and are associated with eGFR decline, rejection, and reduced graft survival. Bacteriophages (phages) offer targeted, microbiome-sparing activity with biofilm penetration and antibiotic synergy that directly address transplant-specific challenges. In this narrative review (search through May 2025), we synthesize evidence spanning clinical reports, mechanistic work, and the emerging regulatory framework. Case series and compassionate-use cohorts show feasibility and safety of personalized phage therapy, with clinical improvement in 77% and microbiological eradication in 61% of difficult infections; randomized data outside transplantation support safety but emphasize the need for pathogen matching. Route selection is pivotal: intravesical delivery achieves high local titers with low systemic immunogenicity for bladder-dominant disease, whereas intravenous phage is suited to bacteremia/upper-tract infection. Regulatory momentum includes the European Pharmacopoeia general chapter 5.31 (2024) and an actively recruiting randomized KTR trial (NCT06409819). To transition from promise to practice, forthcoming trials should preplan phage–antibiotic synergy, integrate immunogenicity monitoring for prolonged IV use, and adopt graft-centric endpoints (UTI-free and antibiotic-free days, eGFR slope, and rejection). Phages represent a rational, repeatable adjunct to protect allograft function amid escalating antimicrobial resistance and deserve rigorous evaluation in KTRs.
Why this record is monitored
This record has an Impact Signal of 72/100 based on recency, source, collaboration, and bibliographic signals. It prioritizes monitoring and is not a judgment of research quality.
Related topics: Bacteriophages and microbial interactions · Urinary Tract Infections Management · Virus-based gene therapy research
Thai researcher and institutional participation
Wiwat Chancharoenthana · Supitcha Kamolratanakul · Opas Traitanon · Asada Leelahavanichkul · Adis Tasanarong · Thammasat University · Mahidol University · Thammasat University Hospital · Chulalongkorn University
Data limitations
This page is a bibliographic record based on abstract-level information, not a full analysis or quality assessment. Verify the DOI and original article before citation.