[sdabdoub]

You are correct, however with new sequencing technologies like the MinION[1] we have access to real-time sequencing in something roughly the size of a cell phone.

They are still in development and there are some technical hurdles, but before too long cheap, fast, and accurate strain typing should be ubiquitous. The next issue is then creating the specific phages, but the first stage is pretty close at hand.

[1] https://nanoporetech.com/products/minion

[AstralStorm]

And the final issue will be actually getting this in the field for non laboratory personnel. Where a GP can fashion a phage in their office and/or order one as easily as the right antibiotic.

Good luck trying to even get the bacterial sample to do it for quite a few kinds of infections. Lungs and other organs would need a good biopsy or at least really well done aspiration, handling of samples is very messy.

It is a good method to use in hospital settings perhaps where you want to sample anyway.