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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition)
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Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition)

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3756

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Veronica Folliero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Federica Dell’Annunziata

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the continuation of our 2024 Special Issue “Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions”.

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs and the emergence of multi-resistant bacterial and fungal strains represent a problem of significant clinical relevance that poses serious threats to public health worldwide. The currently available data have shown a significant increase in drug resistance rates due to bacterial and fungal pathogens that are responsible for nosocomial and community infections worldwide. This leads to the reduced effectiveness of conventional drugs and consequently an increase in mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) has underlined the fact that they consider epidemiological surveillance an essential factor in the control and management of the antimicrobial resistance problem. In addition, the WHO has also highlighted the importance of researching new classes of antimicrobial drugs to implement currently available drugs.

This Special Issue covers all aspects contributing to the resolution of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon, i.e., epidemiological surveillance and all of the aspects of the discovery of new therapeutic options for multidrug-resistant infections, which include nanomaterials, natural and synthetic compounds, repurposed drugs, and existing drugs modified to treat multidrug-resistant infections. We invite researchers to contribute original research and review articles to this Special Issue.

Dr. Veronica Folliero
Dr. Federica Dell’Annunziata
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobial resistance
  • bacteria
  • fungi
  • epidemiology
  • infection
  • antibiotics
  • antifungal drugs
  • surveillance
  • drug discovery

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 231 KiB  
Article
Exploring Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Toward Antibiotics Use Among Adolescents in Southern Italy
by Silvia Angelillo, Giovanna Paduano, Vincenza Sansone, Anna De Filippis, Emiliana Finamore, Concetta Paola Pelullo and Gabriella Di Giuseppe
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020290 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 373
Abstract
Background: This study explored knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding antibiotics among adolescents. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024. Results: Overall, 65.2% of adolescents believed that antibiotics should only be used when prescribed, this was more likely among women [...] Read more.
Background: This study explored knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding antibiotics among adolescents. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2024. Results: Overall, 65.2% of adolescents believed that antibiotics should only be used when prescribed, this was more likely among women and those who needed additional information regarding antibiotics. Women and adolescents without a parent with a chronic disease, who believed that it is not possible to stop antibiotics when symptoms improve and who disagreed that antibiotics are faster treatment for flu were more likely to prefer prescribed antibiotics. Antibiotic use without a medical prescription was reported by 37.4% of participants, and this was more likely among men and adolescents who had a parent with a chronic disease, who needed additional information regarding antibiotics, and who disagreed that antibiotics should only be used when prescribed. Adolescents who are afraid that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may affect their health, who received previous information about AMR, who know that antibiotics are not useful for viral infection treatment, and who need additional information regarding antibiotics, were more likely to believe that it is important to talk about AMR at school. Conclusions: Interventions on AMR and antibiotic use among adolescents are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition))
10 pages, 1416 KiB  
Article
Determination of the De Novo Minimum Selection Concentration of Trimethoprim In Vivo for Escherichia coli Using Galleria mellonella: A Pilot Study
by Jaime Knox Macleod, Zina Gestels, Said Abdellati, Thibaut Vanbaelen, Chris Kenyon and Sheeba Santhini Manoharan-Basil
Microorganisms 2025, 13(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13010003 - 24 Dec 2024
Viewed by 449
Abstract
We investigated whether the maximum residual levels of trimethoprim permitted in food (Acceptable Daily Intake—ADI) could select for de novo trimethoprim resistance in Escherichia coli in vivo. We designed chronic infection models of E. coli in Galleria mellonella and exposed them to sub-ADI [...] Read more.
We investigated whether the maximum residual levels of trimethoprim permitted in food (Acceptable Daily Intake—ADI) could select for de novo trimethoprim resistance in Escherichia coli in vivo. We designed chronic infection models of E. coli in Galleria mellonella and exposed them to sub-ADI doses of trimethoprim through a single-dosing regimen. The emergence of trimethoprim resistance was determined by isolating the target bacteria on selective agar plates, followed by species confirmation using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was assessed via the E-test to determine E. coli susceptibility to trimethoprim. Notably, exposure to as low as one-tenth of the ADI dose through a single-dosing regimen resulted in the selection of trimethoprim-resistant E. coli. Our findings indicate that trimethoprim doses ten-fold lower than the established ADI threshold could induce resistance to trimethoprim in E. coli. These results highlight the importance of considering antimicrobial resistance induction as a key factor when determining ADI levels in food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition))
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15 pages, 1412 KiB  
Article
A Retrospective Study (2019–2023) on the Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Isolates from Canine Clinical Samples Submitted to the University Veterinary Hospital in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
by Velina Dinkova and Nikolina Rusenova
Microorganisms 2024, 12(8), 1670; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081670 - 14 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1338
Abstract
The identification of local susceptibility patterns is important for the elaboration of effective local antimicrobial use guidelines and improvement in treatment outcomes. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of microbial pathogens in dogs over a five-year period (2019–2023) and their antimicrobial resistance patterns [...] Read more.
The identification of local susceptibility patterns is important for the elaboration of effective local antimicrobial use guidelines and improvement in treatment outcomes. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence of microbial pathogens in dogs over a five-year period (2019–2023) and their antimicrobial resistance patterns with an emphasis on multidrug-resistant strains on the basis of 896 swab samples submitted to the microbiological laboratory at the University Veterinary Hospital, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. A total of 1247 strains—1046 bacteria and 201 yeasts—were isolated. An increased proportion of Staphylococcus spp. as an agent of infections in dogs along with significant decrease in the share of Streptococcus spp. (from 16.2% in 2019 to 7.7% in 2023) was found. The occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. in otitis externa increased from 53.4% in 2019 to 84.5% in 2023 (p < 0.0001). The resistance of Staphylococcus spp. isolates to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and cephalexin increased significantly in 2023 vs. 2022. At the same time, increased susceptibility to amikacin was observed in 2023 vs. 2019. For Enterobacteriaceae, significantly decreased resistance against amikacin and marbofloxacin was demonstrated in 2023 compared to 2019. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was present in 405 of 1046 bacterial isolates (38.7%). More than 50% of streptococci and pseudomonads were MDR. Of the MDR staphylococci, 41.7% were isolated from skin lesions and 28.3% were isolated from otitis. More than half of the strains resistant to seven, eight and nine groups of antimicrobial drugs (AMDs) were from wounds/abscesses. The results highlighted the importance of regular local monitoring of the spread of bacterial strains in veterinary clinics and their susceptibility to AMDs with regard to successful therapy outcomes and control on MDR spread. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition))
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11 pages, 5328 KiB  
Article
Influence of Mycobiota in the Nasopharyngeal Tract of COVID-19 Patients
by Veronica Folliero, Carlo Ferravante, Federica Dell’Annunziata, Rosario Nicola Brancaccio, Ylenia D’Agostino, Giorgio Giurato, Roberta Manente, Ilaria Terenzi, Rita Greco, Giovanni Boccia, Pasquale Pagliano, Alessandro Weisz, Gianluigi Franci and Francesca Rizzo
Microorganisms 2024, 12(7), 1468; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12071468 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
The nasopharyngeal tract contains a complex microbial community essential to maintaining host homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection changes the microbial composition of the nasopharynx. Still, little is known about how it affects the fungal microbiome, which could provide valuable insights [...] Read more.
The nasopharyngeal tract contains a complex microbial community essential to maintaining host homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection changes the microbial composition of the nasopharynx. Still, little is known about how it affects the fungal microbiome, which could provide valuable insights into disease pathogenesis. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 55 patients, during three distinct COVID-19 waves that occurred in the Campania Region (southern Italy). An RNA-seq-based analysis was performed to evaluate changes in mycobiota diversity, showing variations depending on the disease’s severity and the sample collection wave. The phyla Basidiomycota and Ascomycota were shown to have higher abundance in patients with severe symptoms. Furthermore, the diversity of the fungal population was greater in the second wave. Conclusion: According to our research, COVID-19 induces significant dysbiosis of the fungal microbiome, which may contribute to disease pathogenesis, and understanding its underlying mechanisms could contribute to developing effective treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Resistance: Current Status and Future Directions (Second Edition))
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