Antimicrobial Resistance and Pharmacotherapy in the Elderly: Challenges and Innovations in Medication Management
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editors
2. Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal
3. Vasco da Gama Research Centre (CIVG), Department of Veterinary Sciences, Vasco da Gama University School, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; molecular epidemiology; horizontal gene transfer; fitness cost; virulence; foodborne pathogens; Enterobacterales; acinetobacter
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
2. Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: aged; inappropriate prescribing; cholinergic antagonists; pharmacotherapy; appropriate polypharmacy; patient safety; risk assessment
2. Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: adherence to therapy; questionnaire validation; aged; pharmacotherapy; appropriate polypharmacy; patient safety; risk assessment
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents an urgent threat to public health, particularly among the elderly population, who are disproportionately affected by infections and frequently exposed to polypharmacy. Older adults often suffer from age-related physiological changes, comorbidities, and immune senescence, which not only increase their susceptibility to infections but also complicate antimicrobial prescribing and treatment outcomes. This Special Issue aims to explore the complex intersection between AMR and pharmacotherapy in older adults, with a focus on challenges related to antimicrobial stewardship, individualised treatment strategies, and medication management in the context of polypharmacy and multimorbidity. We invite original research articles, reviews, case studies, and clinical or pharmacological perspectives on topics including, but not limited to: prevalence and impact of AMR in elderly patients; pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations in antimicrobial use in older adults; clinical decision-making and antimicrobial prescribing in geriatric settings; polypharmacy, drug interactions, and risk of resistant infections; long-term care facilities as hotspots for AMR; interventions to improve antimicrobial stewardship in older populations; the role of gut microbiota in AMR and aging; innovative approaches to optimise drug regimens and minimise AMR risk. The goal of this Special Issue is to bridge the gaps between microbiology, pharmacology, and geriatric medicine, promoting an integrated approach to combating AMR in aging populations.
Dr. Tiago Lima
Dr. Ana Marta Lavrador
Dr. Ana C. Cabral
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. Antibiotics 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 2900 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
- elderly pharmacotherapy
- multidrug-resistant infections
- medication management
- antimicrobial stewardship
- polypharmacy
- geriatrics
- drug&ndash
- microbiota interactions
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