Researchers develop phage-based preventive treatment for newborn meningitis caused by E. coli K1

Summary

Researchers from the Biozentrum, University of Basel, and ETH Zurich have developed a novel preventive treatment for newborn meningitis caused by the K1 form of E. coli bacteria. Instead of using antibiotics, the approach harnesses a bacteriophage (a virus that kills bacteria) to stop the harmful bacteria before transmission occurs. Newborn meningitis, while rare, is life-threatening and affects approximately 1 in 500 premature infants in industrialized countries. This represents the first preventive strategy that targets the pathogen before infection takes hold.