The Wired article was paywalled and I could not read it, but it might be related to this ASME piece from 2018[1] regarding micro-robots killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A possible concern with such technology is that it would weaken the body's immune response by creating a dependency on external factors. We get sick, and develop high fevers, for a reason -- our bodies need to learn to combat pathogens which are constantly attacking us.
If we stop training the immune system to go after some class of bacteria, then we may end up more vulnerable to related classes of microbes. Billions of years of evolution can't be second guessed.
That said, resistant strains are becoming a major public health threat so this approach may become necessary as a "last resort" to save lives.
The latter half of a charming video by Kurzgesagt[0] talks about the tension between anti-bacterial resistance and bacteriophage defenses - we might be able to see-saw treatments based on what local microbes have adapted to. I only mention it as a tangent, and because your comment makes me think you'd be interested.
Would this be a long lasting problem if used once (or just a few times — as in not constantly for any cut or graze)? I’m thinking within the context of war for wounded soldier with little access to hospital/medics.
A possible concern with such technology is that it would weaken the body's immune response by creating a dependency on external factors. We get sick, and develop high fevers, for a reason -- our bodies need to learn to combat pathogens which are constantly attacking us.
If we stop training the immune system to go after some class of bacteria, then we may end up more vulnerable to related classes of microbes. Billions of years of evolution can't be second guessed.
That said, resistant strains are becoming a major public health threat so this approach may become necessary as a "last resort" to save lives.
1. https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/these-robots-k...