Antimicrobial Resistance in the Community Setting: The Other Side of the Coin

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 9898

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Microbiology and Virology Unit, Great Metropolitan Hospital “Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli”, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; antibiotics; resistance mechanisms; difficult-to-treat pathogens; carbapenem resistance; Acinetobacter baumannii
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global concern. It is a well-known challenge in hospital settings, especially caused by tracing techniques and the continuous monitoring of resistance determinants. On the other hand, the diffusion of AMR in community settings still remains a somewhat unknown problem, mostly due to larger and less-controlled antibiotic consumption. Hence, AMR in the community setting is largely underestimated, while common bacterial pathogens have become progressively more resistant to traditional antibiotics. Moreover, the most recently approved antibiotics are only for hospital use, hence they do not represent an available weapon in the battle against AMR in community settings.

This Special Issue takes into account all aspects of AMR and the virulence traits of pathogens isolated in community settings from human, animal and environmental contexts, following a One Health approach. Moreover, the application of molecular, diagnostic and whole-genome sequencing represents an important tool to better understand antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Articles or reviews regarding pandrug- (PDR), extensive drug- (XDR) or multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus spp., Haemophilus spp., Moraxella spp., Mycobacterium spp., Neisseria meningitidis and gonorrhoeae, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp, Campylobacter spp., anaerobes, fungi (yeasts and molds) and typical hospital pathogens acquired in community settings are encouraged. In addition, manuscripts concerning the following specific areas of interest are welcome:

  • In vitro and in vivo studies on clinical isolates;
  • Case reports or case series (including viral and bacterial coinfections);
  • Epidemiological and molecular investigation of outbreaks;
  • AMR in human, animal or environmental contexts;
  • Antimicrobial activity of non-antibiotic molecules against clinical isolates;
  • Rare or emerging resistance determinants;
  • Rare or emerging virulence factors;
  • New associations between resistance determinants and pathogens;
  • Typical hospital pathogens acquired in community settings.

Dr. Luigi Principe
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • emerging resistance
  • multidrug resistance
  • emerging virulence
  • community setting
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Enterococcus spp.
  • Streptococcus spp.
  • Haemophilus spp.
  • Moraxella spp.
  • Mycobacterium spp.
  • Neisseria spp.
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Shigella spp.
  • Campylobacter spp.
  • anaerobes
  • fungi

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 271 KiB  
Communication
Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) in Enterobacterales and A. baumannii Clinical Strains Colonizing a Single Italian Patient
by Alessandra Piccirilli, Elisa Meroni, Carola Mauri, Mariagrazia Perilli, Sabrina Cherubini, Arianna Pompilio, Francesco Luzzaro and Luigi Principe
Antibiotics 2023, 12(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12030439 - 23 Feb 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2013
Abstract
The dramatic increase in infections caused by critically multidrug-resistant bacteria is a global health concern. In this study, we characterized the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. cloacae and A. baumannii isolated from both surgical wound and [...] Read more.
The dramatic increase in infections caused by critically multidrug-resistant bacteria is a global health concern. In this study, we characterized the antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) of K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. cloacae and A. baumannii isolated from both surgical wound and rectal swab of a single Italian patient. Bacterial identification was performed by MALDI-TOF MS and the antimicrobial susceptibility was carried out by Vitek 2 system. The characterization of ARGs was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology (MiSeq Illumina apparatus). K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis and E. cloacae were resistant to most β-lactams and β-lactam/β-lactamases inhibitor combinations. A. baumannii strain was susceptible only to colistin. The presence of plasmids (IncN, IncR, IncFIB, ColRNAI and Col (MGD2)) was detected in all Enterobacterales but not in A. baumannii strain. The IncN plasmid and blaNDM-1 gene were found in K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis and E. cloacae, suggesting a possible transfer of this gene among the three clinical species. Conjugation experiments were performed using K. pneumoniae (1 isolate), P. mirabilis (2 isolates) and E. cloacae (2 isolates) as donors and E. coli J53 as a recipient. The blaNDM-1 gene was identified by PCR analysis in all transconjugants obtained. The presence of four different bacterial species harboring resistance genes to different classes of antibiotics in a single patient substantially reduced the therapeutic options. Full article
10 pages, 269 KiB  
Communication
Real-Life Experience of Molnupiravir in Hospitalized Patients Who Developed SARS-CoV2-Infection: Preliminary Results from CORACLE Registry
by Tommaso Lupia, Silvia Corcione, Nour Shbaklo, Lucio Boglione, Stefano Torresan, Simone Mornese Pinna, Barbara Rizzello, Roberta Bosio, Valentina Fornari, Maria Teresa Brusa, Silvio Borrè and Francesco Giuseppe De Rosa
Antibiotics 2022, 11(11), 1541; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11111541 - 3 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1795
Abstract
Real-life experience of molnupiravir treatment is lacking, especially in people hospitalized for underlying diseases not related to COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis regarding molnupiravir therapy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted for underlying diseases not associated with COVID-19. Forty-four patients were included. [...] Read more.
Real-life experience of molnupiravir treatment is lacking, especially in people hospitalized for underlying diseases not related to COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis regarding molnupiravir therapy in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted for underlying diseases not associated with COVID-19. Forty-four patients were included. The median age was 79 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 51–93 years), and most males were 57,4%. The median Charlson Comorbidity Index and 4C score were, respectively, 5 (IQR: 3–10) and 9.9 (IQR: 4–12). Moreover, 77.5% of the patients had at least two doses of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, although 10.6% had not received any SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Frequent comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (68.1%), and diabetes (31.9%), and most admissions were for the acute chronic heart (20.4%) or liver (8.5%) failure. After molnupiravir started, 8 (18.1%) patients developed acute respiratory failure, and five (11.4%) patients died during hospitalisation. Moreover, molnupiravir treatment does not result in a statistically significant change in laboratory markers except for an increase in the monocyte count (p = 0.048, Z = 1.978). Molnupiravir treatment in our analysis was safe and well tolerated. In addition, no patients’ characteristics were found significantly related to hospital mortality or an increase in oxygen support. The efficacy of the molecule remains controversial in large clinical studies, and further studies, including larger populations, are required to fill the gap in this issue. Full article

Other

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18 pages, 1843 KiB  
Systematic Review
Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Shigella spp. in Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 44,519 Samples
by Saleh Ahmed, Md Imrul Hasan Chowdhury, Shabiha Sultana, Sayeda Sadia Alam, Mahfuza Marzan and Md Asiful Islam
Antibiotics 2023, 12(5), 817; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12050817 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2569
Abstract
Shigella is the leading global etiological agent of shigellosis, especially in poor and underdeveloped or developing nations with insufficient sanitation such as Bangladesh. Antibiotics are the only treatment option for the shigellosis caused by Shigella spp. as no effective vaccine exists. However, the [...] Read more.
Shigella is the leading global etiological agent of shigellosis, especially in poor and underdeveloped or developing nations with insufficient sanitation such as Bangladesh. Antibiotics are the only treatment option for the shigellosis caused by Shigella spp. as no effective vaccine exists. However, the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a serious global public health concern. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to establish the overall drug resistance pattern against Shigella spp. in Bangladesh. The databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies. This investigation comprised 28 studies with 44,519 samples. Forest and funnel plots showed any-drug, mono-drug, and multi-drug resistance. Any fluoroquinolone had a resistance rate of 61.9% (95% CI: 45.7–83.8%), any trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole—60.8% (95% CI: 52.4–70.5%), any azithromycin—38.8% (95% CI: 19.6–76.9%), any nalidixic acid—36.2% (95% CI: 14.2–92.4%), any ampicillin—34.5% (95% CI: 25.0–47.8%), and any ciprofloxacin—31.1% (95% CI: 11.9–81.3%). Multi-drug-resistant Shigella spp. exhibited a prevalence of 33.4% (95% CI: 17.3–64.5%), compared to 2.6% to 3.8% for mono-drug-resistant strains. Since resistance to commonly used antibiotics and multidrug resistance were higher, a judicious use of antibiotics, the promotion of infection control measures, and the implementation of antimicrobial surveillance and monitoring programs are required to tackle the therapeutic challenges of shigellosis. Full article
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15 pages, 905 KiB  
Systematic Review
Candida lipolytica Bloodstream Infection in an Adult Patient with COVID-19 and Alcohol Use Disorder: A Unique Case and a Systematic Review of the Literature
by Omar Simonetti, Verena Zerbato, Sara Sincovich, Lavinia Cosimi, Francesca Zorat, Venera Costantino, Manuela Di Santolo, Marina Busetti, Stefano Di Bella, Luigi Principe and Roberto Luzzati
Antibiotics 2023, 12(4), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12040691 - 1 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2625
Abstract
Candida lipolytica is an uncommon Candida species causing invasive fungemia. This yeast is mainly associated with the colonisation of intravascular catheters, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and infections in the paediatric population. Here, we report a case of C. lipolytica bloodstream infection in a 53-year-old [...] Read more.
Candida lipolytica is an uncommon Candida species causing invasive fungemia. This yeast is mainly associated with the colonisation of intravascular catheters, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and infections in the paediatric population. Here, we report a case of C. lipolytica bloodstream infection in a 53-year-old man. He was admitted for an alcohol withdrawal syndrome and mild COVID-19. Among the primary risk factors for candidemia, only the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials was reported. The empiric treatment was commenced with caspofungin and then targeted with intravenous fluconazole. Infective endocarditis was ruled out using echocardiography, and PET/TC was negative for other deep-seated foci of fungal infection. The patient was discharged after blood culture clearance and clinical healing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of C. lipolytica candidemia in a patient with COVID-19 and alcohol use disorder. We performed a systematic review of bloodstream infections caused by C. lipolytica. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of C. lipolytica bloodstream infections in patients with alcohol use disorder, especially in a COVID-19 setting. Full article
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