Advancing the use of bacteriophages to tackle AMR

In May 2025, the WHO Regional Office for Europe published a report summarising recent advances in the evidence relating to the use of bacteriophages in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bacteriophages, commonly known as phages, are viruses that exclusively infect and replicate within bacterial cells, and can be used to target harmful bacteria while preserving beneficial microbes. These viruses can enhance the effectiveness of existing antibiotic therapies, particularly against resistant bacterial strains, and some have been shown to be safe for human use.