Synergistic potential of probiotics and bacteriophages in combating multidrug-resistant microbial infections: A novel therapeutic strategy for the post-antibiotic era.

Sadaf Ataei-Alamdari, Fatemeh Alimardani, Hamed Afkhami, Mojtaba Kashfi, Mohammad Hasan Yousefi

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in New microbes and new infections, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

5 authors.

Sadaf Ataei-AlamdariMaster of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.

Fatemeh AlimardaniMaster of Medical Bacteriology, Department of Microbiology, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.

Hamed AfkhamiCellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

Mojtaba KashfiFellowship in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

Mohammad Hasan YousefiCellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens has posed a global health crisis, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies beyond conventional antibiotics. Among emerging solutions, the combination of probiotics and bacteriophages has gained significant attention due to their complementary mechanisms in targeting pathogenic bacteria while preserving host microbiota. This review comprehensively evaluates the molecular interactions, synergistic effects, safety profiles, and clinical applicability of probiotic-phage combinations in managing MDR infections. We also discuss challenges related to formulation, delivery, regulatory considerations, and future directions for translating this approach into clinical practice. The integration of probiotics and phage therapy represents a promising avenue to address antibiotic resistance, offering a personalized, targeted, and microbiome-friendly antimicrobial strategy.

Indexed as

Antibiotic resistanceBacteriophagesCombination therapyMDR pathogensMicrobiome modulationPhage therapyProbiotics

Identifiers

PMID42395635

DOI10.1016/j.nmni.2026.101804

PMCPMC13325734

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata

LicenceCC BY

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Registered trials

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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.