Phage v. Staph

Last week doctors hailed an old conqueror of the dread staphylococcus germ. Considered by some scientists a virus, by others an enzyme, this germ-eater is called bacteriophage. Strains of bacteriophage are found in the human intestinal tract, in urine, pus, blood and sewage. About 25 years ago, bacteriophage was first isolated by a British scientist from a dead germ colony. The mysterious substance that killed the bacteria was able to pass through a fine filter and infect other colonies. Some doctors soon dreamed of it as a universal panacea. (Sinclair Lewis dramatized this hope in his novel Arrowsmith.) Compared to the early days, the claims last week seemed conservative.

At the New York State Medical Society meeting in Buffalo last week, Dr. Ward J. MacNeal of Columbia University told how he had used bacteriophage in treating osteomyelitis (an infection of bone often caused by the staphylococcus), had saved not only limbs, but lives. Dr. MacNeal said that in the last ten years he had given bacteriophage to 500 patients with severe infections, had cured 34%--a high proportion.

Bacteriophage is almost as elusive as filtrable viruses; it can scarcely be seen under a high-powered microscope, and must be cultured on a special nitrogen compound called asparagine. For every patient, said Dr. MacNeal, he must send a sample of blood or pus containing the bacteria to special laboratories, have the bacteriophage made to order. It is injected into the veins, as much as a quart in eight hours. Since it is difficult to culture, doctors seldom think of using it until the "extreme stage" of illness. According to Dr. MacNeal, bacteriophage first weakens bacteria with special enzymes, then most probably joins forces with the white blood cells which eat the invaders.

Bacteriophage is particularly useful for deep-seated bone infections which are difficult to open and drain. One of Dr. MacNeal's most successful patients was a surgeon who had an abscess in his shinbone. Instead of an operation, he asked for bacteriophage, received daily injections. In 48 hours his excruciating pain was relieved, in three weeks he was walking, in six he was playing tennis. Said Dr. MacNeal:

"By skillful use of bacteriophages, low-grade infections often are rendered trivial; acute infections may be aborted; deep-seated lesions may heal without drainage; and desperate conditions may be caused to heal in a surprising manner."

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