A woman in Singapore suffering from a life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant infection has become the first patient in Southeast Asia to be successfully treated with viruses, one of which was found in the Singapore River, reported Must Share News.
The patient, identified as Ms A, underwent a complex heart surgery in January 2024 at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) due to a pre-existing condition. Following the procedure, she developed a serious infection in her chest cavity and blood, caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria notorious for its resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Despite receiving months of intravenous antibiotics, her infection kept returning, putting her at risk of life-threatening sepsis. With her options dwindling, doctors turned to an experimental but century-old treatment known as phage therapy.
“Phage therapy involves the administration of bacteriophages, specialised viruses that naturally attack and destroy specific bacteria,” explains Dr. Jasmine Chung, Senior Consultant at SGH’s Department of Infectious Diseases. “Phages do not harm human cells and can target antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”
To find the right phages, SGH researchers screened hundreds of viruses in their lab and even collected new samples from the Singapore River. They tested these phages against Ms A’s bacteria in petri dishes, selecting the most effective ones. After five months of testing, they developed a three-phage cocktail that worked effectively together with her antibiotics — one of which was taken and isolated from the Singapore River.
In September 2024, Ms A received a two-week course of phage therapy via an IV drip. Two months later, her infection was finally under control, allowing her to switch to oral antibiotics instead. By December 2024, vast improvements in her quality of life were observed.
“Her need for hospital visits was greatly reduced, and there was a vast improvement in quality of life,” mentioned the doctors. Dr. Chung revealed that Ms A said she could go to Sentosa Beach with her family and even travel overseas now.
Since then, the SGH team has administered phage therapy to two more patients. Despite its long history, the use of bacteriophages is still considered an experimental medical field. The team sought approval from the relevant health authorities and received informed consent from the patients before proceeding with the therapy.
“This thorough process ensures patient safety remains paramount, even as we push the boundaries and explore novel treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections,” mentioned Dr. Chung.
