Evidence mapPaperPMID 41900873Full record

ReviewPharmaceutics2026

Bacteriophages as Therapeutic Agents for Pulmonary Infections: From Biological Principles to Clinical Applications.

Abdullah A Alshehri, Alhassan H Aodah, Ibrahim A Alradwan, Meshal K Alnefaie, Majed S Nassar, Ibtihal S Alduhaymi, Ahmad M Aldossary, Nojoud Al Fayez, Essam A Tawfik, Fahad A Almughem

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Pharmaceutics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Abdullah A AlshehriAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-0358-4155
Alhassan H AodahAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.
Ibrahim A AlradwanAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-3433-9427
Meshal K AlnefaieAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.
Majed S NassarAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-4939-922X
Ibtihal S AlduhaymiAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad M AldossaryWellness and Preventative Medicine Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-0715-6780
Nojoud Al FayezAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.
Essam A TawfikAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0003-0716-3251
Fahad A AlmughemAdvanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.ORCID 0000-0001-9614-7557

Funding

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Project number (0130)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Respiratory infections remain a significant global health concern, especially as multidrug-resistant (MDR) respiratory pathogens reduce the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics. Patients with chronic lung diseases face persistent biofilm-related infections that are difficult to treat, underscoring the urgency for new solutions. This challenge has renewed focus on bacteriophage therapy as a promising alternative in respiratory antimicrobial management. Bacteriophages are viruses that selectively infect and lyse bacteria, showing strong potential as a precise and effective therapy for resistant pulmonary infections. This review focuses on the mechanisms of phage biology and therapy in lung infections, highlighting their unique interactions with mucus, surfactants, and immune defenses-all of which are central to their clinical promise. The review examines advances in phage engineering, delivery strategies, and inhaled formulations aimed at maximizing phage stability and targeting within the airways. It summarizes recent preclinical and clinical progress targeting MDR respiratory pathogens and discusses regulatory, manufacturing, and safety considerations key to integrating phage therapy into mainstream respiratory care.

Indexed as

antibioticbacteriophagelungmultidrug-resistantrespiratory infection

Identifiers

PMID41900873
PMCPMC13029498

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.