Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Phage and Its Combined Effect with Tigecycline in Controlling Multidrug-Resistant -Associated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR ) is one of the ESKAPE pathogens that restricts available treatment options. MDR is responsible for a dramatic increase in case numbers of a wide variety of infections, including skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), resulting in pyoderma, surgical debridement, and necrotizing fasciitis. To investigate an alternative medical treatment for SSTIs, a broad range lytic phage, vB _AbP_ABWU2101 (phage vABWU2101), for lysing MDR in associated SSTIs was isolated and the biological aspects of this phage were investigated. Morphological characterization and genomic analysis revealed that phage vABWU2101 was a new species in the , , family , and order . Antibiofilm activity of phage vABWU2101 demonstrated good activity against both preformed biofilms and biofilm formation. The combination of phage vABWU2101 and tigecycline showed synergistic antimicrobial activities against planktonic and biofilm cells. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the antibacterial efficacy of the combination of phage vABWU2101 and tigecycline was more effective than the phage or antibiotic alone. Hence, our findings could potentially be used to develop a therapeutic option for the treatment of SSTIs caused by MDR