Bacteriophage therapy for hard-to-treat infections

Bacteriophage Therapy for Difficult-to-treat Infections: the Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Phage Task Force

Observational Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven · NCT06368388

This study is testing if a new treatment using bacteriophages can help people with tough infections that don’t respond to regular medicines.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment50 (estimated)
SexAll
SponsorUniversitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven Academic / other
Locations1 site (Leuven)
Trial IDNCT06368388 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational registry study evaluates the use of bacteriophage therapy for patients with difficult-to-treat infections, such as musculoskeletal infections, chronic rhinosinusitis, sepsis, pulmonary infections, and hidradenitis suppurativa. The study is conducted by a multidisciplinary task force at University Hospitals Leuven, which screens patients to determine eligibility for phage therapy when no standard treatment options are available. Patients undergo a phagogram to assess the effectiveness of available phages against their specific bacterial infections, and data is collected for long-term follow-up to analyze safety and efficacy. The study aims to optimize phage therapy protocols and develop standardized guidelines for treatment.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with difficult-to-treat infections who have exhausted all standard treatment options and have a pathogen for which phages are available.

Not a fit: Patients with infections that are not among the specified conditions or those for whom standard treatment options are still available may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option for patients with infections that are resistant to conventional therapies.

How similar studies have performed: While bacteriophage therapy is a novel approach, there have been previous studies exploring its efficacy, indicating potential for success in similar contexts.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

All patients:

* Diagnosed with a musculoskeletal infection or chronic rhinosinusitis or sepsis or lung infection (CF/Bx) or hidradenitis suppurativa, and
* For whom all previous treatments (surgical and antibiotic) have failed or for whom no other treatment options are available (i.e., last resort cases, based on the assessment of the CBL), for example in case of bacterial resistance. And
* Of whom the pathogen causative for the infection is one for which phages are available in the phage bank, and
* Who have given informed consent to have their data collected in a patient registry

Exclusion Criteria:

All patients:

* With an infectious disease other than those mentioned above, and/or
* For whom standard treatment alternatives are still available. And/or
* Of whom the pathogen causative for the infection is not one for which phages are available in the phage bank. And/or
* Who refused to give their informed consent

Where this trial is running

Leuven

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Musculoskeletal InfectionChronic RhinosinusitisSepsisPulmonary InfectionHidradenitis SuppurativaBacteriophage therapyPersonalized treatmentDifficult-to-treat infection
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.