Exploring the therapeutic potential of staphylococcal phage formulations: Current challenges and applications in phage therapy

Unconstrained consumption of antibiotics throughout the expanse of the 21st century has resulted in increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among bacterial pathogens, a transpiring predicament affecting the public healthcare sector. The upsurge of multidrug-resistant pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, synchronously with the breakdown of the conventional antibiotic pipeline has led to the exploration of alternate strategies. Phage therapy applications have thus gained immense prominence among the scientific community to conquer this notorious pathogen associated with wide-ranging clinical manifestations, especially in immunosuppressed individuals. In this direction, a plethora of phage formulations like topical solutions, medicated dressings impregnated with phages, liposomal entrapments, etc., have been considered as an effective and upcoming strategy. Owing to the synergistic effect of phages with other antibacterial agents, they can be easily exploited for biomedical application. This review primarily focuses on the therapeutic implications of S. aureus phages in the biotechnological and medical arena. Through this review article, we have also discussed the current status and the incurring challenges in phage therapy.