Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital treats the first patient in WA with Phage Therapy
Dr Penny Clohessy with WA's first Phage Therapy patient Keith.
14/01/2025
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH) is leading the way against drug-resistant infections in Western Australia following the treatment of the State's first patient using Phage Therapy.
Phage Therapy uses bacteriophages (phages) that are viruses found naturally in the environment that specifically target and kill bacteria.
Late last year, 65-year-old Keith became the first patient in WA to receive the treatment to fight a multi-drug-resistant infection he developed in his aortic graft following heart surgery in 2021.
Since his 2021 surgery, Keith said he had spent the best part of three years on and off intravenous antibiotics.
“The infection has just stuck with me ever since my operation; it’s been tough,” Keith said.
“If we can get a lasting result from the Phage Therapy it will be a huge benefit to my life and hopefully to others like me.”
Although Phage Therapy has been known for close to 100 years, it is now being more heavily researched in response to a decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics and the rise in multidrug resistant infections. An issue that the World Health Organisation has identified as a serious global threat to health.
Dr Penny Clohessy, Co-Head of Department Infectious Diseases at SCGH, said we are hoping Phage Therapy will provide an alternative to surgery for people like Keith and assist in suppressing, and possibly curing infection."
Keith is the first patient in WA to undertake the therapy, with only a small number having had the therapy nationwide.
Dr Clohessy said we are all hopeful of a lasting positive result.
"It's a really exciting development at SCGH for patients with difficult to treat, severe or drug-resistant infections," he said.
While receiving antibiotic, Keith was being treated at home by our Home Link team.
Home Link is a nursing service based at SCGH which provides acute care at home or in a dedicated clinic for patients from both Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals.
Phage Therapy uses bacteriophages (phages) that are viruses found naturally in the environment that specifically target and kill bacteria.
Late last year, 65-year-old Keith became the first patient in WA to receive the treatment to fight a multi-drug-resistant infection he developed in his aortic graft following heart surgery in 2021.
Since his 2021 surgery, Keith said he had spent the best part of three years on and off intravenous antibiotics.
“The infection has just stuck with me ever since my operation; it’s been tough,” Keith said.
“If we can get a lasting result from the Phage Therapy it will be a huge benefit to my life and hopefully to others like me.”
Although Phage Therapy has been known for close to 100 years, it is now being more heavily researched in response to a decline in the effectiveness of antibiotics and the rise in multidrug resistant infections. An issue that the World Health Organisation has identified as a serious global threat to health.
Dr Penny Clohessy, Co-Head of Department Infectious Diseases at SCGH, said we are hoping Phage Therapy will provide an alternative to surgery for people like Keith and assist in suppressing, and possibly curing infection."
Keith is the first patient in WA to undertake the therapy, with only a small number having had the therapy nationwide.
Dr Clohessy said we are all hopeful of a lasting positive result.
"It's a really exciting development at SCGH for patients with difficult to treat, severe or drug-resistant infections," he said.
While receiving antibiotic, Keith was being treated at home by our Home Link team.
Home Link is a nursing service based at SCGH which provides acute care at home or in a dedicated clinic for patients from both Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Hospitals.
Last Updated:
11/02/2025