Final answer:
Bacteriophage therapy is an infection treatment that uses viruses to target and overwhelm harmful bacteria, which is gaining interest due to increasing antibiotic resistance. Fecal transplants have also been used to restore healthy gut flora. This pursues new ways to fight infections as traditional antibiotics become less effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bacteriophage therapy is a method of treating infections by deliberately introducing benign bacteria or bacteria-killing viruses known as bacteriophages in numbers large enough to swamp the harmful bacteria. This treatment strategy gains attention as antibiotic-resistant bacteria become more prevalent. Bacteriophage therapy has its roots in the early 20th century but was largely replaced by the advancement of antibiotics, such as penicillin.
Infections by antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Clostridium difficile can sometimes be treated using alternative methods including fecal transplants. This method involves transferring stool from a healthy donor to the patient, thus reintroducing beneficial microbial communities into the patient's digestive system. Antibiotics, while effective at killing harmful bacteria, can also destroy these beneficial bacteria, leading to secondary complications.
As antibiotic resistance continues to rise, the medical community is seeking out new treatment methods. To this end, bacteriophage therapy is among several alternatives being reconsidered, with clinical trials and research focusing on its efficiency and application in fighting bacterial infections. Scientists are exploring novel approaches to combat stealth pathogenesis and enhance immune responses while minimizing damage to the host.