Bacteriophage Therapy: III. On the Nature of the Deleterious Effect of the Local Application of Staphylococcus Bacteriophage

Abstract

In the earlier papers we have shown that the bacteriophage is of no therapeutic value in the treatment of skin lesions produced by a moderately invasive staphylococcus. Moreover, we have noted that in animals receiving bacteriophage immediately following the intracutaneous introduction of bacteria, there was a temporary intensification of the inflammatory reaction at the site of the injection.1 Similarly, the local application of bacteriophage or antivirus either preceding or following the introduction of staphylococcus into the cornea or anterior chamber of rabbits and guinea pigs failed to control the progress of the resulting infection contrary to the earlier findings of Carrere.2 Also in this instance the temporary intensification of the reaction has been observed in some of the animals.3