title: Alternative therapies in antibiotic-resistant infection.
abstract: A 24-year-old woman suffering from post-influenza otitis media infection was initially treated with several series of a steroid (Elocon) and a combination of steroids and antibiotics (Atecortin, Dicortineff) without significant medical benefit. The isolated bacterial strains were identified as Staphylococcus homis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Specific phage therapy applied sequentially over a period of three weeks resulted only in a partial reduction in inflammation and limited improvement in overall health condition. Oral application of lactoferrin (LF; 50-mg daily oral doses for seven days with two-week intervals) led to a complete clearance of both bacterial strains and full recovery of the patient. The recovery was associated with increased myelopoiesis and a sustained elevation of serum endogenous LF. In conclusion, specific bacteriophage therapy combined with the administration of lactoferrin proved to be effective in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant external ear infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy,e Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber-Dabrowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimecki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kruzel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kochanowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lusiak-Szelachowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005438:Fludrocortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009355:Neomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects; D041181:Staphylococcus hominis / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C077260:dicortineff; D006096:Gramicidin; D007781:Lactoferrin; D009355:Neomycin; D010400:Penicillin G; D005438:Fludrocortisone