How are microbes dangerous and useful? Infographics

Many patients wonder what medications can be used for sinusitis? The disease often does not want to go away for years, and the standard set of antibiotics ceases to act on bacteria in the sinuses due to adaptation to them.

In this case, the patient begins to look for new treatment methods, which sometimes have unpleasant side effects on the body. Is bacteriophage an effective treatment, or is it akin to a placebo? How to use it correctly for the greatest effect, in order to cure a runny nose without aggravating the development of the disease.

The effect of bacteriophage on bacteria in sinusitis

Bacteriophage is a targeted virus that kills only staphylococcal bacteria. First, it infects the cells of the pathogen, and then begins to rapidly multiply inside, followed by the destruction of the bacterium. The advantage of this method over antibiotics becomes obvious when the infectious agent has a polysaccharide cell membrane that is impenetrable to antibiotics. In this case, the active substance penetrates beyond the membrane and paralyzes the biological processes of staphylococcus, leading to its extinction.

The drug has the following advantages compared to treatment with standard antibiotics:

• Prevention of infection of various organs adjacent to the sinuses, such as the trachea, bronchi, lungs, throat, ears. Provides treatment for otitis media, sinusitis, bronchitis and other related diseases.
• The bacteriophage is effective against the most common type of sinusitis, Staphylococcus aureus.

• It precisely eliminates the cause of the disease, there are no complications or side effects for the body.
• The virus affects only the bacteria of the pathogen, without affecting the natural microorganisms of the mucous membrane.
• After destroying the bacterial population, the active substance is eliminated from the patient’s body naturally.

The use of the drug is justified when staphylococci are diagnosed at the site of pathogen development. Only the attending physician can accurately determine the source of infection, who prescribes specific drugs for treatment.

Important! Self-medication without testing and consultation with a doctor will give random results and will not be able to relieve the patient of sinusitis.

Inner space: viruses and bacteria under a microscope

Plague bacillus is the infectious agent of bubonic plague and can also cause pneumonia and septicemic plague. Various forms of this bacterium have led to high mortality rates in epidemics. As a result of the septicemic plague caused by this bacterium, a third of the European population died between 1347 and 1353. Flickr.com/NIAID

The H1N1 influenza virus, strain A of this flu became known as “swine flu” in 2009. Flickr.com/NIAID

Colorized photograph of particles infected with the H1N1 virus. Flickr.com/NIAID

Bacteria Coxiella burnetti, the causative agent of Q fever. They enter the human body through the respiratory tract and skin. When the disease occurs, a person experiences headaches, pain in the lower back, muscles, and joints. Sleep is disturbed and appetite disappears. Flickr.com/NIAID

Ebola virus, which causes fever. The disease is characterized by a sudden increase in temperature, general weakness, muscle and headaches, accompanied by vomiting, rash, and impaired liver and kidney function. Sometimes causes internal and external bleeding. Flickr.com/NIAID

Salmonella bacterium. As a rule, it lives in the intestines of animals and humans. Flickr.com/NIAID

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus bacterium (green) with human cells (white). These bacteria cause difficult-to-treat diseases such as sepsis and pneumonia. Flickr.com/NIAID

Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. About 20% of the world's population are permanent carriers of this bacterium. It persists on the skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Flickr.com/NIAID

The bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis. The causative agent of staphylococcal meningitis, the treatment of which is likely to cause a brain abscess. Flickr.com/NIAID

Meningitis can also be caused by this bacterium - Staphylococcus aureus (yellow in the picture). Flickr.com/NIAID

The MERS-CoV strain is one of the most dangerous coronaviruses. Flickr.com/NIAID

How to properly use staphylococcal bacteriophage?

The presence of active components of the virus in the bacteriophage requires caution when using the drug. To achieve the greatest effectiveness, instill the medicine into the nose as follows:

1. Inspect the bottle for the presence of sediment and uniform color of the liquid. Check the expiration date of the drug. Wash your hands with soap and wipe the bottle cap with cotton wool soaked in alcohol.
2. Place a needle attachment on a disposable syringe, pierce the rubber stopper of the bottle, and fill the syringe. Remove the nozzle and inject the contents of the syringe into the nostrils.
3. Instill 2 to 10 ml of the product into the nose 3 times a day, after meals. The course of treatment is from one to two weeks as prescribed by the doctor.
4. If there is a risk of recurrence of sinusitis, the drug can also be injected for prevention 2 times a day for a week, every 2 months.

To preserve the activity of the substance contained in the vessel, storage must be carried out at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees. Also, before dropping staphylococcal bacteriophage into the nose, under no circumstances should you open the cap of the bottle.

Important! If the patient has chronic sinusitis, the bacteriophage is not introduced into the nostril, but inside the sinus, which requires a catheter.

This procedure is carried out in a clinic, under the supervision of a specialist. The course of treatment includes the following steps:

1. Phages are taken from the cavity to determine vulnerability to the bacteriophage. The maxillary sinus is washed with saline solution and a catheter is installed.
2. A bacteriophage solution is injected into the sinus. Typically a volume of 5 ml is used, which is administered 2 times a day for a week.
3. Additional instillation of the drug into the nostrils is done at home. To fix the substance in the cavity, cotton swabs or gauze swabs soaked in bacteriophage are used, which are placed in the nasal passage. After an hour, the tampons can be removed. The procedure is performed after meals 3 times a day.

Diseases of the ENT organs are distinguished by their wide prevalence among the population and the frequent formation of numerous and sometimes quite serious complications. The generally accepted approach to the treatment of such diseases is treatment with antibiotics, which is not without its drawbacks due to the development of bacterial resistance to agents with antimicrobial activity.

One of the most successful trends in the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases of infectious origin is the use of bacteriophages. Information about bacterial viruses first appeared more than a hundred years ago, and the first data on effective treatment with their help were made at the beginning of the 20th century. However, the scope of use of phages is still quite limited. Recently, there has been interest in the possibilities that such therapy opens up. The drug Staphylococcal bacteriophage has become widespread in otorhinolaryngology.

What are they, bacteria and microbes?

These are small creatures: it is impossible to see them with the naked eye. Examine surrounding objects for the presence of microbes on them under a microscope. Microbes live everywhere. They move with the help of flagella or tails, and in the water they bounce like balls. Animals and people are also carriers of germs: on their hands, unwashed vegetables and fruits, and wool.

Microbes feed on everything that is around. If you see mold on a piece of bread, it means that microbes have settled on it. Microorganisms can be breeding grounds for disease: these are viruses. To recover and get rid of multiplied microbes, a person is forced to take medications. To fight germs, it is imperative to practice good hygiene.

What is this medicine?

Bacteriophages are viruses that are destructive only against bacteria. The mechanism of their action is to penetrate the bacterial cell and interact with its genome, which leads to their reproduction and subsequent destruction of the pathogen. Most often, bacteriophages are specific and destroy only one specific type of pathogenic bacteria, but there are also polyvalent phages that can parasitize bacteria of different types.

Staphylococcal bacteriophage is a bacterial virus that can destroy only strains of staphylococci. It is believed that in one second a bacteriophage is capable of infecting about 10²³ bacterial cells. They work especially well against bacteria that have a dense polysaccharide cell membrane that is difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. In such cases, phage therapy has an advantage over antibiotic treatment.

Bacteriophages and antibiotics are not the same thing. These drugs are not interchangeable, and the decision to switch to phage therapy should only be made by a doctor. Despite the benefits of phages, in some cases it is not possible to achieve a cure without antibiotics. Before use, be sure to consult a doctor.

For any infection, can it be recommended to take staphylococcal bacteriophage?

The use of this medicine is justified only if the cause of the infection is bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. The most common pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. In the annotation for the drug, indications include diseases of various body systems, including enteral, surgical, and urogenital infections.

In ENT practice, it is used for the treatment and prevention of infections of the bronchi, trachea, nose, lungs, ear, throat (otitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, pneumonia).

Detection of the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms to bacteriophage and its use in the early stages of disease development is the most important point in phage therapy.

Sometimes a medicine is prescribed without first determining sensitivity. Most often, in such cases, the doctor uses a combination of staphylococcal bacteriophage with an antibiotic, which enhances the effectiveness of treatment. It is prohibited to use phage monotherapy to treat an infection that occurs with signs of severe intoxication (fever, chills) without consulting a specialist.

Where do microbes live and what benefit/harm do they bring?

Microorganisms are ubiquitous, living wherever there is water, including hot springs, the bottom of the world's oceans, and also deep inside the earth's crust. The only exceptions are the craters of active volcanoes and small areas at the epicenters of exploded atomic bombs.

Microbes in the soil:

• convert humus into various minerals, which can then be absorbed from the soil by plant roots;
• absorb nitrogen from the air, releasing nitrogen compounds, and thus enrich the soil and help increase crop yields.

Microbes in water:

• oxidize hydrogen sulfide to sulfuric acid and prevent fish from dying;
• purify water from various wastes.
  Reference

  Microorganisms is the name given to a group of living organisms that are too small to be visible to the naked eye (their characteristic size is less than 0.1 mm). Microorganisms include various bacteria and protozoa, as well as microscopic algae and fungi. Microorganisms that cause disease are called pathogenic or pathogenic.

Germs in the air:

• pathogenic microbes can be dangerous because they can serve as a source of infectious disease.

In the human body:

• lactobacilli are able to convert carbohydrates into lactic acid, which prevents the development of harmful microbes;
• supply the human body with natural antibiotics;
• take part in the synthesis of various vitamins;
• have a beneficial effect on bowel function;
• have a stimulating effect on the body's immune system.

How to use staphylococcal bacteriophage?

The drug is available in the form of a transparent solution with a yellowish tint. Before use, you need to pay attention to its color and the absence of sediment in the contents of the bottle.

The medicine is suitable for use both orally (orally) and topically (nasal mucosa, paranasal sinuses). In the treatment of infectious diseases of the nose and sinuses, the drug is prescribed in a dose of 2 to 10 ml 1-3 times a day. The solution can also be used to irrigate the nasal cavity, gargle and introduce moistened turundas into the nasal passages, which should be left for an hour.

When using, questions often arise about how to gargle correctly or how to drip staphylococcal bacteriophage into the nose, because these nuances are not well covered in the instructions. The solution should not be diluted with other liquids. To prevent the penetration of bacteria, it is better to remove the contents by piercing the stopper with a disposable sterile syringe. Then remove the needle from the syringe and immediately drop it into your nose or gargle, without first pouring the solution into a non-sterile container.

For preventive purposes, in case of unfavorable epidemiological conditions, weakening of the body, it is recommended to instill the bacteriophage into the nose monthly for one or two weeks, 2 times a day.

The effect of treatment with the drug should appear within the first two days. If the condition worsens, you must stop therapy yourself and immediately consult a doctor.

Due to the fact that the solution of staphylococcal bacteriophage contains a live culture of bacterial viruses, a number of rules should be followed when using it:

• wash your hands well before use;
• treat the bottle cap with a solution containing alcohol;
• do not leave the bottle cap on non-sterile objects;
• do not keep the bottle open;
• Store opened packaging only at temperatures from 2 to 8°C.

If used correctly, the bacteriophage can be used for 2 years after opening. Medicines that have expired cannot be used.

Symptoms of staphylococcus in the nose

In some cases, a person may not be aware that one or another type of staphylococcus lives in his nose. This is asymptomatic carriage. But in the presence of a number of predisposing factors, for example, with a decrease in immune strength, with exacerbation of chronic diseases, with hypothermia, with injuries to the nose and for other reasons, the bacterium begins to actively grow and multiply. In some people, pathogenic staphylococcus immediately after contact with the nasal mucosa causes inflammation.

This leads to the appearance of a characteristic clinical picture:

• The appearance of a runny nose, which in medicine is called rhinitis.
• An increase in mucous secretion, which is initially transparent, but after a short time impurities of pus are found in it.
• Difficulty breathing due to blockage of the nasal passages.
• Violations of the sense of smell, inability to fully perceive odors.
• Changes in the timbre of the voice, its nasality and hoarseness.
• Breathing through the mouth, which is fraught with the development of complications in the form of inflammation of the larynx, trachea and bronchi.
• Increased body temperature, with acute rhinitis it can reach 38 degrees. If complications develop – 39 degrees or more.
• Disturbances in night rest, difficulty falling asleep, general fatigue and malaise.
• Often, staphylococcus, in addition to the nasal cavity, colonizes the paranasal sinuses, provoking the development of sinusitis or sinusitis.
• Children may have a rash on their body.

How to properly treat sinusitis with Staphylococcal bacteriophage?

Recently, the prevalence of chronic sinusitis has increased. For many years, antibiotics were used to prevent the transition of an acute process to a chronic one, but today the problem of the development of bacterial resistance to them has become very urgent. The most serious threat with regard to the development of sinusitis resistant to standard therapy is Staphylococcus aureus, when carried by Staphylococcus bacteriophage can be very effective.

To achieve the best effect of sinusitis therapy, the following scheme is proposed:

1. Insert a catheter into the maxillary sinus and rinse it with 0.9% saline solution.
2. Introduce 5 ml of bacteriophage solution into the sinus cavity. The procedure should be repeated 2 times a day for 5 or 6 days. This stage must be carried out in a clinic where a specialist installs a catheter.
3. This stage of therapy can be carried out at home. It consists of instilling Staphylococcal bacteriophage into the nose, 5 drops in each nostril. It is also necessary to inject and leave turunda moistened with the drug in each nostril for 1 hour three times a day.

Staphylococcal bacteriophage is safe for newborns

The instructions for use indicate that Staphylococcal bacteriophage is allowed for infants from the first days of life. The drug is used in the following doses (calculated for a single dose):

• 0 – 6 months – 5 milliliters;
• 6 - 12 months - 10 milliliters.

For children from one to three years old, the dosage of Staphylococcal bacteriophage is 15 milliliters, from 3 to 8 years old - 15 - 20 ml, over 8 years old - 20-30 ml. For rectal administration, the dosage should be approximately doubled. The frequency of use should be determined by the doctor depending on the severity of the disease and the goals of therapy.

Advantages of Staphylococcal bacteriophage over antibiotics

Like antibiotics, the main effect of bacteriophages is to destroy bacteria, but unlike them, phages have a number of advantages.

The table shows the main differences between antibiotics and bacteriophages.

The use of Staphylococcal bacteriophage during pregnancy is not prohibited, but before use it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Bacterial colonies and their appearance

If you look at a photo of what human skin looks like under high magnification, or inoculate a smear from the skin on a nutrient medium, you will find that many pathogenic bacteria are constantly found in small quantities on human skin.

In fact, the number of bacterial cells in the human body is even slightly greater than those that make up organs and tissues. Many of them live in the intestines and stomach, inhabit the genitals, and are found in urine, sputum and other secretions. When sown on nutrient media, they form colonies that look different depending on the species. Similar colonies can be observed in nature - for example, in blue-green algae, actinomycetes and archaea.

Photos of colonies of the same type of bacteria may look different depending on the growing conditions, the presence of vitamins and minerals in the nutrient medium, and its density. Colonies can look large (diameter more than 4-6 mm), medium (2-4 mm in diameter) and small, have a round, oval, branching (rhizoid), rosette shape, differ in transparency or color, relief, consistency.

For example, spirilla Helicobacter pylori, when determined in the intestines or urine of women by inoculating feces on solid media, forms transparent, shiny colonies of small size, and in liquid media they form thin grayish-blue films and look like a slight turbidity of the liquid. Sulfur-recycling ones form colonies in the form of colored mucus on the stones of reservoirs and springs, and nitrogen-fixing actinomycetes look like small thread-like roots, almost invisible in the root system of the plant.

When determining bacteria in human urine, the most common bacteria are Escherichia coli, lactobacilli, Proteus, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus. The appearance of their colonies allows you to visually assess the presence of bacteria in the urine and determine their sensitivity to antibiotics. For differential diagnosis of bacteria in urine, specific antibiotics or nutrients can be added to the media to allow the isolation of pure cultures of bacteria of one species.

Many times a day, carefully and thoroughly. This will all last until they see this photo of microbes under a microscope that live on the hands of children. Their mere appearance, even without a detailed description, will be an excellent reminder of the mandatory observance of children's hygiene.

While this information figuratively gave you goosebumps, a photograph of the palm of an 8-year-old child, which is now walking around the Internet, opened our eyes to the fact that entire squads of microbes actually run across children’s skin.

To warm up, here's a scary fact:

The human body is home to billions of microorganisms, outnumbering our cells 10 to 1. Of course, some members of the microbial world can cause disease, but the vast majority live in harmony with humans: in the mouth, nose and skin.

After filling a petri dish with a special laboratory solution, a microbiologist from California asked her 8-year-old son to make an imprint in it one morning after he had done a few chores and played with the dog. The child was absolutely healthy.

After this, the scientist incubated the vessel at body temperature and after two days, “several orders” of bacteria turned into colonies.

Then Ms. Sturm, the boy's mother, decided to photograph her home experiment and post it on the American Society for Microbiology website MicrobeWorld.

“There are approximately several million bacteria in this giant flower.”

But you are unlikely to see such a concentration of bacteria on your palm because in the experimental conditions the bacteria were provided with optimal conditions for reproduction and prosperity.

The huge bacterial bloom on her son's hand likely represents a particular type of bacilli, the most diverse group of bacteria. Scientists use certain types of bacilli to synthesize antibiotics such as bacitracin and polyximin. That is, despite the fact that there are those that can cause disease, most bacteria are absolutely harmless to humans.

“This is something that is often present in the environment. We often do swab samples from shoe soles, and there are also huge numbers of bacteria there.”

The reason why the bacteria are located clearly along the contour of the hand is that the rest of the vessel is absolutely sterile. But if you noticed, there is another layer of bacteria between the thumb and index finger.

“It’s likely a contaminant,” Sturm said. “I did the experiment at home on the kitchen counter, so when you lift the lid there is a possibility of contamination of the vessel, such as dust or animal dander.”

The following photo shows a close-up view of the bacteria concentration.

Although the biologist didn't do specific tests to determine how many types of different bacteria were present in the print, she did say she could try to make a scientific guess as to what microorganisms populated the print.

“A few white colonies can be seen around the fingertip area. It looks like staphylococcus. Yellow colonies are micrococcus, and pink colonies are serratia.”

All of the above bacteria are very common - we come into contact with them on a daily basis. Staphylococcus is a round bacterium that is often found in soil and also likes to linger on human skin and mucous membranes.

Many species of micrococcus are harmless and prefer to live in water, dust and soil, but scientists have also found the presence of micrococcus on human skin, dairy products and beer.

Some types of serratia, on the other hand, can lead to infection, especially for people in the hospital. These bacteria love to colonize our respiratory and urinary tracts, but can also live on our skin.

Are there any disadvantages?

Such obvious advantages of bacteriophages should put an end to antibiotic therapy. But it's not that simple. In our country, bacteriophage therapy is gradually becoming more widespread, but foreign specialists are skeptical about them and never use them as the only means of treatment. What is the reason for this contradiction?

This medicine is not always effective enough against serious infections, and besides, it is strictly specific. Due to the fact that it is not intended for intravenous and intramuscular use, it is not always possible to achieve the required bactericidal concentration. Therapy with such drugs is a good support for antibiotics, but not a replacement for them.

What types of microbes are there?

All microorganisms differ from each other in size, shape, size, structure, mobility, relation to the external environment (temperature, humidity, etc.), the nature of nutrition and respiration. Some microbes require oxygen, while others (anaerobes) do not.

All microbes are divided into 3 large groups:

• bacteria;
• molds are thread-like cells that usually form large clusters (colonies);
• yeast are large round or oval cells.

Scientists have discovered the connection between the human body and the simplest organisms. Read more >>

Why might analogues of Staphylococcal bacteriophage be better than the original?

In our country, Staphylococcal bacteriophage has been produced by the Federal State Unitary Enterprise NPO Microgen of the Russian Ministry of Health since the 40s of the 20th century. It is unique in its own way and specific for bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. Its cost ranges from 750 to 850 rubles.

To date, polyvalent bacteriophages (Sextaphage) have been synthesized, which are capable of destroying not only staphylococci, but also other bacteria that are important in the development of diseases of the ENT organs. It can be used topically, in the form of irrigation, rinsing, for rinsing and injection into the paranasal sinuses. The dose is determined individually. The duration of therapy can range from 5 to 15 days. If necessary, repeated courses of therapy can be carried out. The average price in pharmacies is 650 rubles.

Another product with a similar effect is Otofag gel, produced by the MicroMir Scientific and Production Center since 2012. This is a new drug that contains a cocktail of phages that has a wide spectrum of activity against various bacteria. It is recommended to apply the gel locally in the form of applications on the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and palatine tonsils 2-3 times a day until symptoms disappear. The gel is easy to use and is often recommended as a preventive measure. The disadvantage may be that it is not suitable for washing the paranasal sinuses, which is very useful in the treatment of sinusitis. On average, its price is 850 rubles.

Evidence base for the effectiveness of Staphylococcal bacteriophage

Staphylococcal bacteriophage has undergone a number of clinical trials, during which it has proven its effectiveness against infection with various strains of staphylococci. In particular, after phage therapy, in the majority of people who had moderate growth of Staphylococcus aureus on the mucous membrane, Staphylococcus aureus was not detected within one month. This is a very good result, because it is almost impossible to eliminate Staphylococcus aureus from the body by using standard antibiotic therapy.

In the examined group, the carriage rate of Staphylococcus aureus after treatment with Staphylococcal bacteriophage decreased from 35% to 5%. During the treatment, the subjects noted positive results in the form of disappearance of rhinitis, sore throat and sinus congestion.

Treatment of dysbiosis of the oral cavity, pharynx and nasopharynx.

Numerous microorganisms live in the oral cavity and nasopharynx (there are a hundred times more anaerobes - lovers of oxygen than aerobes - living without oxygen). These are bacteroides, porphyromonas, prevotella, eubacteria, fusobacteria, bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, actinomycetes, Haemophilus influenzae, neisseria, spirochetes, leptotrichia, streptococci, staphylococci, peptococci, peptostreptococci, veillonella, Candida fungi, protozoa (Entamaeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax) and other organisms . Antimicrobial components of saliva (antibodies and lysozyme) inhibit the action of foreign microbes. Fibronectin (similar in properties to gram-positive bacteria) coats the mucous membrane and inhibits the growth of gram-negative bacteria. All types of microflora living in symbiosis with humans are in a certain quantitative ratio with each other.

When antiseptic drugs and antibiotics are abused to treat various diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx (throat), the balance of microflora can be disrupted, that is, it can cause a imbalance in the quantitative ratio of beneficial and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms (and towards an increase in pathogenic species). And against this background, dysbacteriosis (dysbiosis) develops.

Dysbacteriosis itself subsequently becomes the cause of inflammatory processes in the mouth, throat and nasopharynx. If there is a tendency to such frequent diseases as tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, or oral candidiasis develops, then one may suspect that the microflora is disturbed and needs to be restored. In addition to measures to support the immune system and taking additional amounts of beneficial bacteria (Lactobacteria and Bifidobacteria), bacteriophages are successfully used. In order to know what type of bacteriophage to use, a bacterial culture test is taken (smear from the oral cavity and nasopharynx). Next, it is determined whether the found strain of bacteria reacts to this bacteriophage and, if the phage sensitivity of the bacteria is confirmed, the administration of the bacteriophage is started.

For the treatment and prevention of dysbiosis of the oral cavity, pharynx, nasopharynx, the following are suitable: Pyobacteriophage polyvalent purified ( Sextaphage ), Staphylococcal bacteriophage, Streptococcal bacteriophage, Pyobacteriophage combined. They are used in the form of rinsing, irrigation of mucous membranes, and instillation into the nose. When rinsing, it should be taken into account that the bacteriophage foams a lot, so you need to put a little bit of it into your mouth. Rinsing with a bacteriophage solution is carried out followed by swallowing the solution.

Bacteriophage in ENT practice.

In case of inflammatory or purulent-inflammatory processes in ENT diseases in the nose, nasopharynx, pharynx or ear (for example: tonsillitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, otitis), there is also the possibility of using bacteriophage. To treat otitis media, bacteriophage is used in the form of turundas moistened with a solution or rinsing the middle ear cavities. To treat inflammation in the sinuses, the nasal cavity and nasopharynx are washed with a bacteriophage, or the turundas moistened with the bacteriophage are left in the nose for a while. The turundas are left for an hour to an hour and a half, then changed several times during the day. Since a certain bacteriophage targets only a certain type of bacterium, it is necessary to select the bacteriophage according to the pathogenic bacterium that caused the purulent or inflammatory process. To do this, take a smear from the site of the lesion and do a bacterial culture. And only after identifying the pathogen is a phage selected.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that since the bacteriophage is stored in a refrigerator (not in a freezer!), the solution must be warmed in your hands before use, or held for a short time at room temperature. But only that part of the solution that you use, and the entire bottle with the remaining contents is put back in the refrigerator.

How is staphylococcus transmitted in the nose?

To avoid infection, it is worth knowing how bacteria can enter the nasal cavity.

Among the most common methods of transmission, doctors have identified the following:

• Airborne path. That is, a person inhales air that is contaminated with staphylococcus and they naturally enter the cavity of his nose, resulting in infection. They are released into the environment by human carriers when sneezing, coughing and talking. In addition, pets can serve as a source.
• The period of intrauterine development, the process of childbirth and breastfeeding. Children becoming ill with staphylococcal infections are almost always associated with the fact that their mother is infected. The fetus can become infected hematogenously, as well as due to placenta adherens and other labor disorders.
• Airborne dust path. This route of infection is closely related to the airborne route. That is, when an infected organism releases bacteria into the environment, they, in turn, do not immediately reach the nasal mucosa, but settle in the dust. A healthy person becomes infected when they inhale this dust.
• Contact and household route of infection. When infection occurs as a result of using someone else's personal hygiene products or through close contact, for example, a kiss or simply touching the skin.
• Infection in a hospital setting.

In addition, there are additional risks that contribute to the fact that the bacteria enters the nasal cavity and begins to actively multiply there:

• Hypothermia is one of the leading provoking factors of inflammation. This is explained by the fact that when a person inhales cold air, the cilia of the ciliated epithelium, which are responsible for cleansing the nasal cavity, stop actively moving. As a result, pathogenic microbes settle in the mucous membrane for a long time and begin to actively multiply there.
• ARVI and influenza no less often lead to the development of staphylococcal rhinitis. Against the background of these diseases, not only local, but also general immunity decreases. Therefore, the infection often awakens precisely during an acute respiratory illness.
• Prolonged use of drops that have the property of constricting blood vessels leads to the fact that a person begins to suffer from drug-induced rhinitis. Against this background, it is much easier for staphylococcus to penetrate inside the nasal cavity and begin to multiply.
• State of health and age of the person. There are certain groups of people who are most susceptible to staph infections. These groups include children under one year old, newborns, the elderly and people with serious chronic diseases.
• The body's susceptibility to bacteria increases due to long-term use of medications, for example, cytostatics and corticosteroids.
• Exacerbation of chronic foci of infection - tonsillitis, adenoiditis, pharyngitis.
• Severe and prolonged stress.