Bacterial Infections and Antibiotic Resistance - Bacterial infections pose a significant threat, potentially leading to hospitalization and loss of life [2] - Bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics, diminishing their effectiveness [7] - Bacteria utilize extra proteins to create antibiotic-resistant cell walls, further exacerbating the problem [8] - Genetic material sharing among bacterial cells facilitates the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance [9] Bacteriophages as a Potential Solution - Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria [5][6] - Bacteriophages inject their genetic material into bacteria, forcing replication until the bacterial cell explodes [6] - Phage therapy, using bacteriophages, is emerging as an alternative to antibiotics due to increasing antibiotic resistance [13] - Phage cocktails, mixtures of different phages and antibiotics, have shown success in treating antibiotic-resistant infections [12] Clinical Applications and Examples - Bacteriophages have been used successfully in treating patients with deadly bacterial infections, even when antibiotics failed [10][11] - Phages are being explored as a potential treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, where antibiotics are often ineffective [13]