Antibiotic-resistant infections are a global concern for both humans and animals. A recent study published in Veterinary Quarterly tested a new way to treat an antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa wound infection in a Siamese cat, known as “Squeaks”. Squeaks had acquired the infection following multiple surgeries that aimed to treat the cat for injuries after a severe fall from a high-rise.

In this study, the veterinary team created a viral phage capable of killing the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. Similar approaches using targeted phage therapy have been successful in the treatment of drug-resistant wound infections in humans. The researchers administered antibiotics intramuscularly and applied the phage directly to the surgical site. They then advised the owners to continue applying the phage therapy topically and administering antibiotics intramuscularly at home. With this targeted approach, Squeak’s wound was able to fully heal after 14 weeks.

This is a great example of the power of comparative medicine and how advancements in human medicine can directly benefit animals.

Source:

R Braunstein, G Hubanic, O Yerushalmy, S Oren-Alkalay, A Rimon, S Coppenhagen-Glazer, O Niv, H Mirom, A Barsheshet, R Hazan. Successful phage-antibiotic therapy of P aeruginosa implant-associated infection in a Siamese cat. Veterinary Quarterly. 44(1): 1-9, 2024.

• What dolphins can teach us about healthy aging
• Researchers discover a biological signature that can be used to predict the maximum lifespan of mammals

Categories: Feline, Illnesses and Injuries, Pets

Tags: antibiotic resistance, antibiotics, bacteria, cat, health, infection, medicine, phage therapy, veterinary, wound healing