RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Phage therapy for pulmonary infections: lessons from clinical experiences and key considerations JF European Respiratory Review JO EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW FD European Respiratory Society SP 220121 DO 10.1183/16000617.0121-2022 VO 31 IS 166 A1 Georgia Mitropoulou A1 Angela Koutsokera A1 Chantal Csajka A1 Sylvain Blanchon A1 Alain Sauty A1 Jean-Francois Brunet A1 Christophe von Garnier A1 Grégory Resch A1 Benoit Guery YR 2022 UL http://err.ersjournals.com/content/31/166/220121.abstract AB Lower respiratory tract infections lead to significant morbidity and mortality. They are increasingly caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens, notably in individuals with cystic fibrosis, hospital-acquired pneumonia and lung transplantation. The use of bacteriophages (phages) to treat bacterial infections is gaining growing attention, with numerous published cases of compassionate treatment over the last few years. Although the use of phages appears safe, the lack of standardisation, the significant heterogeneity of published studies and the paucity of robust efficacy data, alongside regulatory hurdles arising from the existing pharmaceutical legislation, are just some of the challenges phage therapy has to overcome. In this review, we discuss the lessons learned from recent clinical experiences of phage therapy for the treatment of pulmonary infections. We review the key aspects, opportunities and challenges of phage therapy regarding formulations and administration routes, interactions with antibiotics and the immune system, and phage resistance. Building upon the current knowledge base, future pre-clinical studies using emerging technologies and carefully designed clinical trials are expected to enhance our understanding and explore the therapeutic potential of phage therapy.Can phage therapy address the growing challenges posed by the crisis of antimicrobial resistance? Lessons learned from recent clinical experiences and a review of key aspects, opportunities and challenges of phage therapy for pulmonary infections. https://bit.ly/3vKLimb