SGH successfully deploys phage therapy to treat life-threatening antibiotic-resistant infection in landmark case
In a Southeast Asian first, Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has treated a patient with antibiotic-resistant infection using a virus therapy sourced partially from the Singapore River.
Phage therapy, a century-old method using bacteriophages to kill bacteria, was used to save a woman in her 30s suffering from a persistent infection following complex heart surgery. The case marks a milestone in Singapore’s fight against antimicrobial resistance.
A Life-Threatening Infection After Surgery
The patient, identified as Ms A, developed a severe chest and bloodstream infection in January 2024 after undergoing a complex heart and vascular implant surgery. Her condition, caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, proved resistant to multiple antibiotics, leading to recurrent hospital stays and forcing her to rely on prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment. With standard options exhausted, the risk of a dangerous surgical procedure loomed large.
To avoid high-risk surgery, SGH turned to phage therapy—a targeted virus-based method rarely used in modern medicine but gaining renewed interest due to rising antibiotic resistance. SGH built a library of over 100 bacteriophages, including environmental samples. After culturing her bacterial strain and testing matches, a cocktail of three phages was developed. One phage was isolated from the Singapore River, proving critical in forming a custom formulation that could work synergistically with antibiotics.
Five Months of Preparation, Two Weeks of Treatment
The phage screening, safety testing, and formulation took five months. Administered intravenously over two weeks, the treatment was successful. Ms A transitioned from IV to oral antibiotics, no longer required her vascular catheter, and experienced a significant improvement in her quality of life. She was able to resume normal activities, including traveling with her family—something previously deemed impossible due to her condition.
Phages are highly host-specific, targeting only harmful bacteria while leaving healthy microbes intact—unlike traditional antibiotics. They can penetrate bacterial biofilms, structures that often shield superbugs from medication. Associate Professor Andrea Kwa of SGH described them as “little soldiers” that invade and burst bacterial cells. Despite the therapy’s effectiveness, regulatory approval was necessary, and the treatment was conducted under compassionate use with informed consent.
Ongoing Expansion and Clinical Promise
Following Ms A’s recovery, SGH has treated two more patients and plans to treat two more in April 2025. Most cases involve infections related to implanted devices. While still considered experimental, SGH is working with regulators to establish a national framework to expand the therapy’s use. Research interest is also rising in neighboring countries like Malaysia, though Singapore remains the regional leader in clinical application.
As antibiotic resistance poses increasing risks globally, Singapore’s pioneering use of phage therapy offers hope for safer, more effective infection control. This approach not only enhances patient outcomes but strengthens the country’s reputation as a leader in advanced healthcare innovation.
Sources: Mothership (2025), The Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Bacteriophage Therapy SGH, Singapore River Virus, Antibiotic Resistant Infection, Ms A Patient Recovery
