Inhalative use of the endolysin Cpl-1 rescues mice with fatal pneumococcal pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. S. pneumoniae remains the most common cause in pneumonia and pneumococcal resistance to multiple antibiotics is increasing. The purified bacteriophage endolysin Cpl-1 rapidly and specifically kills pneumococci on contact. We have recently shown that repetitive intraperitoneal injections with Cpl-1 rescued mice with fatal pneumococcal pneumonia (Witzenrath et al., Crit Care Med 2009). The aim of the current study was to determine the therapeutic potential of aerosolized Cpl-1 in pneumococcal pneumonia.