From Crisis to Cure: Phage Therapy’s Clinical Role in Combating Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

The global rise in antibiotic resistance poses a critical threat to healthcare, with Acinetobacter baumannii emerging as a significant pathogen due to its multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. These infections, often impervious to last-line antibiotics, present immense clinical challenges. Mechanisms such as capsule formation, biofilm production, β-lactamase, and efflux pump systems drive its resilience, enabling immune evasion and antimicrobial resistance. Phage therapy offers a targeted approach by exploiting bacterial surface receptors, such as capsules or efflux pump components, to infect and kill resistant strains while preserving the host microbiome. Recent clinical studies highlight its potential to resolve severe MDR infections, including targeting efflux pumps to restore antibiotic efficacy. However, challenges such as phage-resistant variants, regulatory hurdles, and scalable production remain. This review examines the transformative potential of phage therapy against A. baumannii, addressing breakthroughs, obstacles, and future directions as a critical tool against MDR pathogens.