Multidrug-resistance in bacteria is a global issue impacting veterinary and human medicine, as well as the environment. In the “One Health” context, finding alternatives or complements to antibiotics for treating bacterial infections in veterinary medicine is a public health priority. One promising alternative is the use of bacteriophages, which offer numerous advantages

Despite common misconceptions, the regulatory framework for exploratory treatments in veterinary medicine is very strict. Veterinary medicine encompasses a wide range of practices, from individual pet care to herd medicine, where treated animals often enter the food supply. The urgency of the antibiotic resistance crisis necessitates adapting legislation to allow veterinarians to incorporate bacteriophages into their therapeutic arsenal.

In 2019, new legislation (EU 2019/6) classified phage therapy as a “Novel Therapy,” requiring centralized marketing authorization and entered into force in January 2022. New EMA guidelines published in October 2023 now facilitate the registration of bacteriophage preparations for veterinary use.

Previously, no phage-based treatments were authorized in veterinary medicine, unlike human medicine. However, experimental trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of phage therapy in animals, including cases of external otitis in dogs, diarrhea in cats, skin infections, osteomyelitis in rabbits, and bovine mastitis. These studies showed significant reductions in bacterial titers and no harmful effects.

Members of the Belgian Phage Valley are actively working to implement phage therapy in veterinary medicine to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Although phage therapy has been around for over a century, it now represents a powerful tool for veterinarians to reduce antibiotic use and prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance.