The Interventions to Prevent and Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infection
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotic Therapy in Infectious Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 1109
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that patients acquire while receiving treatment for other conditions within a healthcare setting. They represent a major challenge for patient safety worldwide, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and higher mortality rates. Common types of HAIs include bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, Clostridioides difficile infection, and pneumonia, particularly ventilator-associated pneumonia. These infections are often caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus species, Candida spp, and resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Clostridioides difficile poses a particular challenge because spores can persist in the environment for a long time. Several factors contribute to the development of HAIs, including using invasive devices such as catheters and ventilators, surgical procedures, antibiotic use, compromised immune systems, and inadequate adherence to infection prevention protocols. The burden of HAIs is especially high in low- and middle-income countries, where resources for infection control may be limited. Many HAIs are preventable through strict implementation of standard precautions, such as hand hygiene, proper sterilization of medical equipment, environmental cleaning, and the judicious use of antibiotics to prevent resistance. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in preventing HAIs by following best practices and engaging in continuous education and training. In addition, hospitals must foster a culture of safety, as well as invest in infection control and antibiotic stewardship programs. Surveillance systems are essential to monitor infection rates, identify outbreaks early, and guide interventions. Reducing HAIs not only improves patient outcomes but also strengthens trust in healthcare systems and reduces the financial burden on both hospitals and patients. Overall, tackling HAIs requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach and a continuous focus on implementing best practices.
Prof. Dr. Nasia Safdar
Guest Editor
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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
- infection
- resistance
- methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- vancomycin resistant enterococcus
- Clostridioides difficile infection
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
