Antibiotic Resistance: From the Bench to Patients, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics Use and Antimicrobial Stewardship".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 3602

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
2. Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Interests: antimicrobial peptides; solid-phase chemistry; combinatorial chemistry; drug delivery systems; peptide drug conjugates; orthogonal chemistry; drug discovery; biomaterials
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Guest Editor
Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP); questionnaires; epidemiology; public health; bacteriology; novel antimicrobials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The introduction of antibiotics into routine clinical use in the 1950s ushered in a new era in the history of humanity, allowing for the treatment of bacterial infections that were previously life-threatening or lethal. However, due to the widespread use of antimicrobials in subsequent decades, multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have emerged, which often cause difficult-to-treat infections with few remaining treatment options. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical public health issue of the 21st century, which was further exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. According to recent reports, AMR may overcome malignant diseases as the major cause of death in the next 50 years. In addition, the disease burden of AMR disproportionally affects individuals in low- and middle-income countries, further fueling inequalities globally. Numerous stakeholders—including various governments, non-profit actors, healthcare professionals, academia, and pharmaceutical companies—have come to the realization that focused, trans-disciplinary, and trans-boundary actions are needed to overcome the burden of AMR. These interventions include improvements in surveillance methods, diagnostics, and healthcare professional training to enhance antimicrobial stewardship interventions; preclinical studies on developing novel antimicrobial lead compounds; and real-world assessment of the existing drugs to ensure their most effective use. Furthermore, focused and culture-sensitive educational campaigns targeting the public on the prudent use of antimicrobials and infection prevention are also essential.

The first edition of the Special Issue “Antibiotic Resistance: From the Bench to Patients” was published in 2020. It was a successful collection with nine excellent papers and has encouraged us to open a second edition on the same topic. As a continuation of the first Special Issue, this second edition aims to present novel results on the epidemiology of various bacterial pathogens—including the trends in the infections caused by MDR bacteria—and the novel options for their diagnostics and susceptibility testing. In addition, interventional studies on improving antimicrobial drug utilization, pharmacoepidemiological studies, and reports on the knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc.) and patients regarding infectious diseases and self-medication with antibiotics are also welcome.

Prof. Dr. Fernando Albericio
Dr. Márió Gajdács
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • antimicrobial resistance
  • infectious disease epidemiology
  • multidrug resistance
  • clinical bacteriology
  • antimicrobial stewardship
  • self-medication
  • knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP)
  • regulatory perspectives
  • drug utilization
  • policy analysis
  • primary care
  • pharmacy
  • novel antimicrobial drugs
  • laboratory testing

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3137 KiB  
Article
Bacterial Pathogen Profiles and Antibiotic Resistance in Pediatric Leukemia Patients: Insights for Optimizing Infection Management in Immunocompromised Children
by Cristina Elena Singer, Alin Iulian Silviu Popescu, Renata Maria Văruț, Mihaela Popescu, Dira Loredana, Kristina Radivojevic and Petrescu Ileana Octavia
Antibiotics 2024, 13(12), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13121234 - 22 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Background: This study investigates bacterial etiology and antibiotic resistance in pediatric leukemia patients to determine the impact of chronic pathology on treatment efficacy. Methods: Thirty cases of children aged 1–16 years (18 boys, 12 girls) were analyzed, identifying 13 pathogens, including 8 [...] Read more.
Background: This study investigates bacterial etiology and antibiotic resistance in pediatric leukemia patients to determine the impact of chronic pathology on treatment efficacy. Methods: Thirty cases of children aged 1–16 years (18 boys, 12 girls) were analyzed, identifying 13 pathogens, including 8 Gram-positive and 5 Gram-negative bacteria. Results: Among the patients, 11 girls presented with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) type B, while one boy and one girl had acute myeloid leukemia, and, as for boys, three had ALL type T and two had pre-B ALL. The most common pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, 11 patients), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, 6 patients), Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Due to the patients’ compromised health, most required intensive care and strong antibiotic regimens, including linezolid, vancomycin, and ertapenem, which showed limited resistance. Conclusions: These findings highlight the critical importance of understanding bacterial resistance patterns to guide effective treatments in vulnerable populations. Knowing specific resistance profiles can be lifesaving, allowing for tailored therapies that improve survival rates in children with leukemia facing serious bacterial infections. Focusing on the dual aspects of pediatric patients and multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, this study aims to highlight the importance of addressing these factors together to enhance therapeutic approaches in vulnerable populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance: From the Bench to Patients, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 3012 KiB  
Article
Genotypic Characterisation and Antimicrobial Resistance of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Humans, Animals, and the Environment from Lusaka, Zambia: Public Health Implications and One Health Surveillance
by Maisa Kasanga, Márió Gajdács, Walter Muleya, Odion O. Ikhimiukor, Steward Mudenda, Maika Kasanga, Joseph Chizimu, Doreen Mainza Shempela, Benjamin Bisesa Solochi, Mark John Mwikisa, Kaunda Yamba, Cheryl P. Andam, Raphael Chanda, Duncan Chanda and Geoffrey Kwenda
Antibiotics 2024, 13(10), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13100951 - 10 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2059
Abstract
Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in Escherichia coli are a serious concern due to their role in developing multidrug resistance (MDR) and difficult-to-treat infections. Objective: This study aimed to identify ESBL-carrying E. coli strains from both clinical and environmental sources in Lusaka District, Zambia. [...] Read more.
Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in Escherichia coli are a serious concern due to their role in developing multidrug resistance (MDR) and difficult-to-treat infections. Objective: This study aimed to identify ESBL-carrying E. coli strains from both clinical and environmental sources in Lusaka District, Zambia. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 58 ESBL-producing E. coli strains from hospital inpatients, outpatients, and non-hospital environments. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and the VITEK® 2 Compact System, while genotypic analyses utilised the Illumina NextSeq 2000 sequencing platform. Results: Among the strains isolated strains, phylogroup B2 was the most common, with resistant MLST sequence types including ST131, ST167, ST156, and ST69. ESBL genes such as blaTEM-1B, blaCTX-M,blaOXA-1, blaNDM-5, and blaCMY were identified, with ST131 and ST410 being the most common. ST131 exhibited a high prevalence of blaCTX-M-15 and resistance to fluoroquinolones. Clinical and environmental isolates carried blaNDM-5 (3.4%), with clinical isolates showing a higher risk of carbapenemase resistance genes and the frequent occurrence of blaCTX-M and blaTEM variants, especially blaCTX-M-15 in ST131. Conclusions: This study underscores the public health risks of blaCTX-M-15- and blaNDM-5-carrying E. coli. The strengthening antimicrobial stewardship programmes and the continuous surveillance of AMR in clinical and environmental settings are recommended to mitigate the spread of resistant pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibiotic Resistance: From the Bench to Patients, 2nd Edition)
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