Staphylococci (Latin Staphylococcus, from other Greek. Σταφυλή - “grapes” and κόκκος - “grain”) - a genus of bacteria of the family Staphylococcaceae. In a pure culture, they are located "grapes" because they are divided in different planes. They do not form spores and capsules; they are facultative anaerobes. They are divided into pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic.
Staphylococcus aureus may be encapsulated. Bacteria of this kind are widespread in nature: in soil, water, air. They are representatives of normal cutaneous microflora in animals and 25-40% of the population. In humans, they live and colonize not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract (nose, pharynx), vagina and intestines. Their mere presence of the disease does not cause.
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcusaureus) is the most pathogenic for humans. It got its name because on nutrient media it forms a dense golden color (a special pigment) plaque, while other bacteria are colorless. It is the causative agent of all kinds of inflammation of a purulent nature, without exception, in any tissues. It can affect the skin, soft tissues, respiratory, bone, articular, endovascular systems, causes many pathologies: from acne to sepsis. Even today, he is one of the four most aggressive sources of nosocomial infections (nosocomial infections), especially in postoperative wound complications.
History
First isolated by a Scottish surgeon Alexander Ogston in 1880 as a pus of surgical abscesses. After 4 years, described by Ottomar Rosenbach.
Antibiotic resistance
Why is staphylococcus so poorly treated? The active use of penicillin against staphylococcus has led to the fact that, as a result of its natural selection, a mutation has become fixed, which is completely indifferent to penicillins, since it contains the penicillinase enzyme that breaks down penicillin.
After that, staphylococcus began to use methicillin - a modification of penicillin, which does not destroy penicillinase. But resistant strains also appeared to him, then to vancomycin, a glycopeptide.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant not only to penicillins, but also to cephalosporins. That is why Staphylococcus aureus can be treated for years and not get any result.
How to be treated for staphylococcus?
To combat staphylococcus, a set of measures should act in 3 directions:
- Influence on the source of infection itself by isolating people with staphylococcal infections, reorganization of cocci carriers among doctors and patients with antiseptics: lysozyme, furatsilinom, rivanol, etc.
- The exclusion of infection, which can be achieved by improving the sanitary-hygienic regime, the strictest adherence to asepsis and antiseptics in the hospital.
- Strengthening immunity in humans using immunomodulators including.
Such treatment with immunopreparations is called immunobiological. These include toxoids, antifagins, vaccines, bacteriophages, gamma globulin and antistaphylococcal plasma.
What is a bacteriophage and its structure
The drug is a novelty in the drug market, and many have a poor idea of what it is.
Bacteriophages are viral particles placed in a liquid solution and killing only certain types of pathogenic bacteria, for example, only strains of staphylococci. They are so active that in 1 second a bacteriophage can capture about 10²³ of bacteria.
They are especially scary for those cocci in which the shell is dense polysaccharide, inaccessible for antibiotics. That is why phage therapy has absolutely undeniable advantages over antibiotics.
The bacteriophage against Staphylococcus aureus is a biological drug. It reduces the concentration of toxins secreted by staphylococcus.
Bacteriophage as an alternative to treat infections
Until recently, antibiotics were a panacea. They are chemical poisons for bacteria. But killing pathogens, they do not spare the natural microflora, they destroy the surrounding tissue. In addition, often the misuse of antibiotics leads to the emergence of resistant strains to them. Such a number does not work with bacteriophages; bacteria cannot "negotiate" with them.
So it turns out that the bacteriophage from Staphylococcus aureus becomes an ideal weapon. A huge plus of these viral particles is that they act only on staphylococci, but they do not affect the rest of the body.
Using
Bacteriophages from Staphylococcus aureus are similar to snipers who destroy enemies on purpose, while other systems do not suffer. They act very specifically: they multiply in the bacterial cells themselves. There is no need for repeated administration, as with antibiotics.
When they destroy all the bacteria, there will be no food left for them, and they will die themselves. But these same advantages have led to the fact that there are also disadvantages. Due to their narrow specialization, precise identification of the pathogen is required. Then the phage can be selected optimally. This translates into the need for lengthy clinical studies.
As a result, the therapist's work is noticeably increased and it is much easier for him to prescribe antibiotics and brush aside the patient. In addition, each bacterium needs only its own bacteriophage. In practical use, it is better to use cocktails from drugs.
Bacteriophages are almost living organisms, on the verge of living and dead, so they can not be massively bred like sheep. You can only create them in laboratories. Pharmaceutical companies do not want to perform complex and meticulous work with the virus, therefore bacteriophages cannot be classified as drugs yet.
The structure and operation of bacteriophages
Bacteriophages were discovered in 1917. Any bacteriophage has a head and tail with fibrils, somewhat reminiscent of a space structure.
Tail 3-4 times longer than head size. It contains double-stranded or single-stranded RNA or DNA.
How does reproduction occur? Also, like all viruses. Adsorption of phage on the bacterial wall, introduction of its DNA, reproduction of phage and evacuation of daughter populations from the bacterial cell. That is, the phage attaches to the bacterial cell due to the presence of specific surface receptors for viruses. Up to 300 particles of viruses can “crouch” per cell.
After attachment, the virus breaks down the wall with lysozyme enzymes. At the same time, due to some biochemical reactions, the tail cover is reduced and its shaft is introduced into the cell. The DNA of the virus is injected into the cytoplasm of the bacterium. From this moment, the phage DNA controls the genetic apparatus of the bacterium. The reproductive cycle of the phage begins. It forms its copies, i.e., multiplies. This happens very quickly, literally within 5-7 minutes from the moment of infection. After the phage offspring is released, the bacterium dies.
Antibiotic Benefits
Bacteriophages from Staphylococcus aureus, as well as antibiotics, are aimed at combating pathogenic bacteria. The similarity ends here. The bacteriophage has undeniable advantages over antibiotics.
The advantages of a bacteriophage with Staphylococcus aureus in the intestine are as follows:
- may be prescribed prophylactically;
- has no age restrictions;
- not prohibited to pregnant and lactating;
- no side effects and contraindications;
- effective against resistant strains of bacteria;
- may be combined with other drugs;
- does not cause the formation of resistant strains;
- beneficial microflora does not suffer;
- non-addictive and resistance of staphylococci to phage;
- strengthens the immune system.
Indications for use
Indications for treatment with bacteriophages with Staphylococcus aureus and other staphylococcal infections:
- MPS infections
- purulent surgical infections: burns, infected wounds and sepsis, etc .;
- ENT diseases and infections of the respiratory system;
- gastrointestinal tract infections (from gastritis to colitis and gall bladder pathologies);
- nbsp; warning.
There are no contraindications and side effects in bacteriophages.
Instructions for use
Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage is available in the form of a clear yellowish solution. It is injected directly into the focus of infection. The course averages 5-15 days. For successful therapy, it is important to identify the sensitivity of bacteria and begin treatment in the early stages. Sometimes this possibility is excluded. Then the doctor can use the combined use of a bacteriophage and an antibiotic.
Self-medication is not applicable in any case. Liquid phage is applied locally in the form of lotions, irrigation, or plugging, depending on the size of the affected area.
In ENT practice, a solution of a bacteriophage with Staphylococcus aureus in the throat is also used for washing, irrigation, in nasal and ear drops. With tonsillitis, it is used in aerosol form for irrigation.
How to take staphylococcal bacteriophage with Staphylococcus aureus in the intestine? It is used orally inside on an empty stomach 3 times a day 2 hours before a meal, rectally in the form of enemas once a day. The course of admission is 7-10 days. If the desired site to the bacteriophage from Staphylococcus aureus was treated with an antiseptic, it must first be washed with saline. The effect of treatment manifests itself in the first 2 days.
Release Forms
Staphylococcal bacteriophage is represented only by a solution for internal use or enemas. It is released without a prescription. Store the drug in a dark place, at a temperature of 2-10 degrees. It is suitable for 2 years. When the solution is cloudy, it is not used.
The correct behavior when opening the bottle
Before opening the bottle should:
- wash hands thoroughly;
- before removing the cap, treat it with alcohol, while the plug is not removable;
- pierce the cork only with a sterile needle and pick up the drug only with a sterile syringe;
- the liquid must be used immediately, but the solution must not be poured anywhere.
Also, do not mix the bottle with other liquids.
If the cork is still removed, do not put its inner surface on the table. The opened bottle should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 2 to 10 ° C.
The average price in pharmacies is within 750 rubles. After the expiration date, the drug is not used, even if it retains its transparency.
What is applied today
To date, the popular polyvalent staphylococcal bacteriophages from Staphylococcus aureus (Sextafag) have been synthesized, which are able to destroy not only staphylococci, but also streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, pathogenic intestinal bacteria that provoke ENT diseases, surgical infections, urogenital, septic conditions. It is also called a pyobacteriophage.
The composition of the Intesti-bacteriophage includes a mixture of phagolysates from the causative agents of dysentery, E. coli, Salmonella, Proteus, staphylococcus and enterococci. "Intesti-bacteriophage" from Staphylococcus aureus is prescribed for patients with bacterial dysentery, salmonellosis, colitis, dyspepsia, dysbiosis, enterocolitis.
Another combined product is the Russian Otofag gel, produced since 2012. Also contains a cocktail of phages, especially good for ENT diseases. But for washing the sinuses it is not used.
Reviews
Reviews about staphylococcal bacteriophage with Staphylococcus aureus in the vast majority of cases are positive. Patients confirm the high effectiveness of the drug in the fight against infection and its safety compared to antibiotics.
However, there are also individual reviews of a negative property. But this is most likely due to the errors of the patients themselves during therapy.
Sometimes parents, frightened by the word virus, stop the treatment themselves, because it seems to them that the symptoms have suddenly intensified. Especially often, mothers of infants do this, and then they complain that nothing helped. Hence the false opinions about the ineffectiveness of treatment. The disadvantages include the high cost of the drug.
Reviews about the staphylococcal bacteriophage with Staphylococcus aureus are enthusiastic, some patients say that for the first time in many years they felt like people and were able to enjoy the previously forbidden charms of life. For example, they tried ice cream.