EVALUATION OF PHAGE ACTIVITY AGAINST ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS SPECIES

Abstract

Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen native to intestinal microbiota that causes severe infections including bacteremia, endocarditis, and neonatal sepsis. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. faecalis strains were isolated from clinical samples using Bile Esculin Azide agar, biochemical profiling, and microscopy. Antibiotic susceptibility testing confirmed resistance to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, and vancomycin, with retained sensitivity to rifampin. This resistance demands an immediate therapeutic alternate and phages serve to be the suitable alternative. Lytic phage PA-814 was isolated from hospital sewage and evaluated as antibiotic alternatives. Phage PA-814 significantly suppressed bacterial growth for 16 hours compared to controls. Phage PA-814 exhibited narrow host range and optimal stability at 37°C and pH 7. DNA-based genome was confirmed via nuclease treatment and electrophoresis. These findings support phages as promising therapeutics against MDR E. faecalis infections.