Successful systemic phage therapy for implant-associated MRSA spondylodiscitis

This article reports a clinical case demonstrating the successful use of systemic bacteriophage therapy to treat a chronic, antibiotic-refractory infection. A 60-year-old woman with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) vertebral osteomyelitis associated with non-removable spinal implants had failed multiple antibiotic regimens and developed hypersensitivity to most available drugs. Physicians administered individualized intravenous bacteriophage therapy (35 doses of 10⁹ PFU) targeting the MRSA strain. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse effects and resulted in clinical recovery, normalization of inflammatory markers, and no relapse six months after therapy despite discontinuation of antibiotics. The case highlights the potential of personalized phage therapy as a safe and effective option for deep-seated infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, while also illustrating regulatory pathways for compassionate clinical use.