PHAGOTHERAPY IN GEORGIA

We offer you the opportunity for treatment at the Eliava Phage Therapy Center – one of the few centers in the world specifically designed for phage therapy. It is a part of the Eliava Institute of Bacteriophages, Microbiology, and Virology – a globally renowned research center in the field of phage biology and their clinical applications since 1923.

At the Eliava Phage Therapy Center, specialists with experience in various medical fields work, and their treatment strategies emphasize the use of bacteriophages as a cornerstone of comprehensive medical care.

What is a bacteriophage?

Bacteriophages are viruses that can infect bacteria; they are natural predators of bacteria. Bacteriophage therapy involves the use of "good" viruses (bacterial viruses) to treat antibiotic-resistant or chronic bacterial infections. The bacterial virus acts directly and exclusively on target bacteria, destroying them through a process called "lysis."

Bacteriophages have the following advantages compared to antibiotics:

• Phages can kill antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria.
• Phages are selective and do not act on beneficial bacteria.
• Phages have high bioavailability in various tissues of the body.
• Phage concentration increases in the infected area through self-replication and quickly diminishes after infection elimination.
• Phages can be used as a preventive measure to prevent the development of bacterial infections.
• Phages can be taken with any other medications, including antibiotics.
• Phage therapy has no side effects.
• Antibiotic-resistant infections

Patients from around the world come to the Eliava Phage Therapy Center to combat infections resistant to antibiotics using unique therapeutic bacteriophages from Eliava. Phage preparations for therapeutic and prophylactic use are made by selecting bacteriophages with a broad spectrum of activity against specific pathogenic bacteria. This is determined by conducting bacteriological analysis of a clinical sample.

Bacteriophages are ineffective in treating infections caused by viruses, mold, fungi, parasites, or other non-bacterial causes.

"Phage therapy is successfully applied in:

• Skin and tissue infections related to burns, wounds, phlegmons, abscesses, folliculitis, impetigo, and pyoderma.
• Eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis and blepharitis.
• Oral cavity infections like gingivitis and stomatitis.
• Ear, nose, and throat infections associated with sinusitis, pharyngitis, middle ear infection, and external ear infection.
• Respiratory infections related to cystic fibrosis and chronic respiratory diseases.
• Gastrointestinal diseases like bacterial gastroenteritis and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome.
• Urogenital and gynecological infections: prostatitis, urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, vaginitis, etc.
• Pediatric (including neonatal) various purulent-inflammatory infections.
• Hospital-acquired infections and complications related to the postoperative period.
• Treatment Packages

Local Treatment Package

The local treatment package includes the initial part of the treatment conducted at our clinic, spanning 10-14 working days. This period involves multiple consultations with doctors from different specialties, in-depth examinations, procedures, and phage therapy itself (treatment may continue longer upon returning home). The patient continues treatment at home, staying in constant communication with their doctors. Communication continues through email or online video consultations, if necessary.

The cost of this package is 4200 euros.

Remote Treatment Package

The remote treatment package is designed for patients who could potentially benefit from phage therapy but are unable to travel due to health issues. The clinic can send phages to various countries worldwide. Communication is carried out via email or through online video consultations. To enhance remote clinical services, we offer a telemedicine program implemented in the remote treatment package. This allows patients and doctors to communicate in real-time, while also complying with HIPAA, GDPR, PHIPA/PIPEDA, and HITECH requirements. Doctors can assess the patient's medical history, conduct evaluations, and much more through interactive medicine. Online consultations are very convenient and make sense if you want to review your medical prescriptions when you cannot travel.

The cost of this package is 2100 euros.