From laboratory to clinical application: a narrative review of bacteriophage therapy for antimicrobial-resistant infections in veterinary medicine.

Antimicrobial resistance poses one of the most critical challenges to global health, particularly within veterinary medicine, where antibiotic misuse contributes significantly to multidrug-resistant infections. Bacteriophages have re-emerged as promising biocontrol agents that can target resistant pathogens while preserving host microbiota and environmental balance. However, despite growing experimental evidence, therapeutic implementation remains constrained by heterogeneous methodologies, limited clinical validation, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. This narrative review critically appraises advances in veterinary phage therapy and suggests that standardized, optimized bacteriophages may match the efficacy and biosafety of antibiotics, potentially enhancing their effectiveness in combination therapies. Latest studies report substantial pathogen reduction and, in a smaller number of cases, improved clinical outcomes in livestock (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens), as well as in aquaculture (Aeromonas hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda) and apiculture (Paenibacillus larvae) models. Emerging strategies, including phage cocktails, microencapsulation, and phage-antibiotic synergy, enhance therapeutic stability but require standardized evaluation. To fully realize their potential, bacteriophage therapies must be developed within harmonized frameworks that integrate genomic surveillance, pharmacodynamic modeling, and quality-controlled production. Phage therapy should thus be viewed not as an established alternative but as a dynamic, hypothesis-driven approach capable of reshaping antimicrobial stewardship within the "One Health" paradigm.