Reduction in bacterial colonization by administering bacteriophage compositions

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a susceptible patient by treating the susceptible patient with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in pathogenic bacteria. Preferably, treatment of the patient reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log. In a typical embodiment, the susceptible patient is an immunocompromised patient selected from the group consisting of leukemia patients, lymphoma patients, carcinoma patients, sarcoma patients, allogeneic transplant patients, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency patients, cystic fibrosis patients, and AIDS patients. In a preferred mode, the patients treated by this method are colonized with the pathogenic bacteria subject to infection by said bacteriophage.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for reducing the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in a person colonized with pathogenic bacteria comprising treating the colonized person with a pharmaceutical composition containing bacteriophage of one or more strains which produce lytic infections in said pathogenic bacteria, wherein said treatment occurs prior to said colonized person developing an illness due to said pathogenic bacteria and said treatment reduces the risk of bacterial infection or sepsis in said colonized person, and wherein said treatment of the colonized person reduces the level of colonization with pathogenic bacteria susceptible to the bacteriophage by at least one log, wherein said composition is administered intravesicularly, topically, orally, rectally, ocularly, otically, nasally, or via inhalation. 
     
     
         30 . A method for prophylactic treatment of an individual comprising administering lytic bacteriophage to said individual, said bacteriophage producing lytic infections in bacteria capable of causing disease, said administration in an amount sufficient to eliminate said bacteria. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the alteration of normal microflora of the individual is minimized. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bacteria is capable of causing disease of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or respiratory tracts, skin, oral cavity, or bloodstream. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the bacteria capable of causing disease is a bacteria from the genus of  Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococci, Listeria, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Streptococci, Pseudomonas  or  Proteus.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the bacteria capable of causing disease is  Escherichia coli,  or  Staphylococcus aureus.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the individual is a human. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the lytic bacteriophage is administered periodically. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the lytic bacteriophage is administered daily. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the lyric bacteriophage is administered in a tablet, capsule, or food or drinking additive. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , said method for maintaining normal flora in a population comprising
 obtaining bacteriophage that produce lytic infections in bacteria capable of causing disease; and   administering said bacteriophage prophylactically to eliminate said bacteria, whereby alteration of normal microflora is minimized.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the bacteria is capable of causing disease of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary, or respiratory tracts, skin, oral cavity, or bloodstream. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the bacteria capable of causing disease is a bacteria from the genus of  Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella, Staphylococci, Listeria, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Streptococci, Pseudomonas  or  Proteus.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the population is an animal population. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein said animal population is chickens, calves, pigs or lambs. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the lytic bacteriophage is administered periodically. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the lytic bacteriophage is administered daily. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the lytic bacteriophage is administered in a tablet, capsule, or food or drinking additive. 
     
     
         47 . A method for delivering active phages into the small intestine comprising administering phages in a tablet or capsule capable of transferring phages through the stomach; and releasing active phages in the small intestine. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein there is no reduction of phage viability due to gastric acidity.