Compositions containing bacteriophages and method of using bacteriophages to treat infections

Abstract

Purified, host-specific, non-toxic, wide host range and virulent bacteriophage preparations that are effective in killing bacterial organisms in vivo are disclosed. Also disclosed are compositions containing these bacteriophages, methods of making the bacteriophage preparations and methods of treating bacterial infections using the compositions. Methods of treating bacterial infections using the compositions containing the bacteriophages in combination with conventional antibiotics also are disclosed.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . A method of treating a mammal suffering from bacterial infection comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of a composition comprising: 
 (a) a purified, host-specific, non-toxic, wide host-range, and virulent bacteriophage preparation, wherein: 
 (1) the bacteriophage preparation consists essentially of two or more bacteriophage strains, wherein each bacteriophage strain is specific for the bacterial infection treated and is selected against one of the group consisting of  staphylococci, hemophilia, helicobacter, mycobacterium, mycoplasmi, streptococci, neisserii, klebsiella, enterobacter, proteus, bacteriodes, pseudomonas, borrelii, citrobacter, escherichia, salmonella, propionibacterium, treponema, shigella, enterococci,  and  leptospirex;    
 (2) at least two of the bacteriophage strains are isolated against different strains of bacterial organisms; and  
 (3) each bacteriophage strain is effective in killing, in vitro, bacteria from at least about 50% of bacterial isolates, wherein the isolates are from the same strain of bacterial organism as that from which the bacteriophage strain is isolated; and  
 (4) the bacteriophage preparation can be safely administered to patients or mammals in need; and  
   (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the bacterial organisms are selected from the group consisting of  Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Helicobacter pylori, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus parasanguis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus viridans,  Group A streptococcus and anaerobic streptococcus,  Hemophilus influenzae, Shigella dysenteriae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium asiaticum, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Propionibacterium acnes, Treponema pallidum, Treponema pertanue, Treponema carateum, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Borrelia burgdorferi, Leptospirex hemoragia, Klebsiella oxytoca,  and  Citrobacter fruendii.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Staphylococcus aureus.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Streptococcus pyogenes.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Citrobacter freundii.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Klebsiella oxytoca.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Escherichia coli.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the bacterial organisms is  Salmonella typhimurium.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the bacteriophage preparation is resistant to one or more properties selected from the group consisting of: 
 (a) resistant to exposure to high temperatures;    (b) resistant to exposure to drying;    (c) resistant to exposure to lytic agents;    (d) resistant to exposure to mutator hosts;    (e) resistant to heat shock; and    (f) resistant to ionic variation.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising administering an antibiotic.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the antibiotic is selected from the group consisting of aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, macrolides, erythromycin, monobactams, penicillins, quinolones, sulphonamides, and tetracycline.