title: Efficacy of lytic Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of bacteriophages as an alternative treatment method against multidrug-resistant bacteria has not been explored in Kenya. This study sought to determine the efficacy of environmentally obtained lytic bacteriophage against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA) bacterium in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staphylococcus aureus bacterium and S. aureus-specific lytic phage were isolated from sewage and wastewater collected within Nairobi County, Kenya. Thirty mice were randomly assigned into three groups: MDRSA infection group (n = 20), phage-infection group (n = 5), and non-infection group (n = 5). The MDRSA infection group was further subdivided into three groups: clindamycin treatment (8 mg/kg; n = 5), lytic phage treatment (108 PFU/mL (n = 5), and a combination treatment of clindamycin and lytic phage (n = 5). Treatments were done at either 24 or 72 hours post-infection (p.i), and data on efficacy, bacterial load, and animal physical health were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with phage was more effective (100%) than with clindamycin (62.25% at 24 hours p.i and 87.5% at 72 hours p.i.) or combination treatment (75% at 24 hours p.i. and 90% at 72 hours p.i.) (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that the environmentally obtained S. aureus lytic bacteriophage has therapeutic potential against MDRSA bacterium in mice.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Primate Research (IPR), Nairobi, Kenya. josemislredo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Joseph Michael Ochieng'
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oduor
authors.forename: Nyamongo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Onkoba
authors.forename: Fredrick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maloba
authors.forename: Washingtone Ouma
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Arodi
authors.forename: Atunga
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nyachieo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000821:virology*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002981:Clindamycin; D062065:Wastewater