Viruses that infect only bacteria, called phages, could help wastewater plants kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria and make their resistance genes easier to destroy afterward. The review covers what limits phages in real wastewater and how engineers are working around those limits.
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A literature analysis of 2377 Web of Science articles (2015-2025) shows growing research interest in phage control of resistant bacteria and resistance genes in wastewater plants.
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Conventional disinfection such as chlorination and UV often fails to inactivate resistant bacteria and degrade both intracellular and extracellular resistance genes, and can produce toxic by-products.
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Obstacles include bacterial defenses (CRISPR-Cas, biofilms), wastewater conditions (pH swings, particle adsorption), and gene transfer by phages; proposed fixes include phage cocktails, genetic engineering, and magnetic nanoparticle delivery.
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