There have been a lot of news stories lately about antibiotic resistance. At the moment, antibiotics are the only effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections. If they stop working, you could die. This, unfortunately, has happened to me.
I was born with Bronchiectasis, a condition that causes scars on the lungs. This means I get infections fairly often. But this time it is different.
Following surgery to remove a cyst from my thorax four years ago, I suffered a collapsed lung. A protracted stay at the hospital thus caused infection with bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) that can’t be treated by antibiotics. I’ve had eight different kinds – orally, via nebulisers and IV drips – but the doctors at my specialist London lung hospital have told me that they can’t kill it, only try and control it.
It makes me feel pretty ill most of the time, and is causing more damage to my lungs. Eventually I may need to carry permanent oxygen just to breathe. The existing treatment is quite extensive, with antibiotics at home followed up by weeks of in-patient stays every couple of months. They have quite horrible side effects; the most dangerous can cause organ failure. This is basically my future with the Superbug: it may kill me. Obviously this isn’t ideal, so I’ve been looking into other treatments and have found phages.
Phages are successfully used in Eastern Europe instead of antibiotics. Antibiotics work by killing lots of bacteria in the gut, both the good and bad, whereas phage therapy clinics keep a huge library of phages which they match to the harmful bacteria. There are no known side effects. I have been in contact with a top phage clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia. There is a good chance they can eradicate the bug entirely with a fortnight’s trip there.
I’m keen to go ahead as soon as possible! But it isn’t cheap. So I’m asking for help. It will make a HUGE difference to my life –it may even save it -so please consider donating. Thank you!