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Antibiotics
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Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens
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Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 3117

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Alejandro Di Conza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratorio de Resistencia Bacteriana, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM), Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Biotecnología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interests: antimicrobial resistance (AMR); microbial genomics; MALDI-TOF MS for resistance detection; mobile genetic elements; genomic surveillance of resistant pathogens; one health approach; public health and zoonotic diseases; environmental microbiology
Dr. Barbara Ghiglione

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratorio de Resistencia Bacteriana, Instituto de Investigaciones en Bacteriología y Virología Molecular (IBaViM), Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Biotecnología y Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; genomic surveillance of resistant pathogens; one health approach; environmental microbiology; wastewater-based epidemiology; kinetic characterization of beta-lactamases

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in infectious pathogens is a growing global health concern that affects not only clinical settings but also extends to companion animals, livestock, and the environment. MDR bacteria, such as Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, among others, present significant challenges to current treatment options due to their ability to resist multiple antibiotics. These difficult-to-treat pathogens complicate disease management, leading to increased mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. Beyond human health, MDR bacteria are frequently isolated from pets, farm animals, and diverse environmental sources, reflecting the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the need for a One Health approach. The spread of pathogens with difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) through hospital fomites, food chains, water systems, and animal contact underlines the urgency for global surveillance, innovative research, and coordinated action to combat this issue. This special issue aims to provide a platform for the latest research on the prevalence, mechanisms, and control strategies of MDR or DTR in diverse settings. By exploring patterns of multidrug resistance across different reservoirs, we hope to foster a comprehensive understanding of the factors driving resistance and encourage the development of more effective solutions.

Dr. José Alejandro Di Conza
Dr. Barbara Ghiglione
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

  • MDR
  • DTR
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • genomics
  • surveillance
  • carbapenemases
  • MRSA
  • VISA

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 546 KiB  
Article
Outbreak of NDM-5-Producing Proteus mirabilis During the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Argentine Hospital
by Barbara Ghiglione, Ana Paula Rodriguez, María Sol Haim, Laura Esther Friedman, Nilton Lincopan, María Eugenia Ochiuzzi and José Alejandro Di Conza
Antibiotics 2025, 14(6), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14060557 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 320
Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, driven by heightened antibiotic usage and device-associated infections, has posed significant challenges to healthcare. This study reports an outbreak of Proteus mirabilis producing NDM-5 and CTX-M-15 β-lactamases in a hospital in Buenos [...] Read more.
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, driven by heightened antibiotic usage and device-associated infections, has posed significant challenges to healthcare. This study reports an outbreak of Proteus mirabilis producing NDM-5 and CTX-M-15 β-lactamases in a hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from October 2020 to April 2021. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented outbreak of NDM-5-producing P. mirabilis in the country. Methods: A total of 82 isolates were recovered from 40 patients, with 41.5% from blood cultures and 18.3% from respiratory and urinary samples, among others. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR-based methods, and MALDI-TOF MS cluster analysis were conducted. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to characterize the MLST, resistome and plasmid content. Biofilm formation assays and in vitro rifampicin susceptibility tests were also conducted. Result: Most isolates exhibited resistance to carbapenems, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones, while retaining susceptibility to aztreonam. Genetic analysis confirmed the co-presence of the blaNDM-5 and blaCTX-M-15 genes. Clonal relationships was supported by PCR-based typing and MALDI-TOF MS cluster analysis. WGS revealed a resistome comprising 25 resistance genes, including rmtB and both β-lactamases, as well as the presence of an incomplete IncQ1 replicon associated with multiple resistance determinants. MLST classified this clone as belonging to ST135. Despite the biofilm-forming capacity observed across strains, rifampicin demonstrated potential for disrupting established biofilms at concentrations ≥32 µg/mL in vitro. The MDR profile of the outbreak strain significantly limited therapeutic options. Conclusions: This study highlights the growing threat of NDM-producing P. mirabilis in Argentina. The absence of surveillance cultures from the index case limits insights into the outbreak’s origin. These findings underscore the importance of integrating genomic surveillance into infection control protocols to mitigate the spread of MDR pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens)
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25 pages, 4407 KiB  
Article
Multidrug Resistance, Biofilm-Forming Ability, and Molecular Characterization of Vibrio Species Isolated from Foods in Thailand
by Watcharapong Mitsuwan, Ratchadaporn Boripun, Phirabhat Saengsawang, Sutsiree Intongead, Sumaree Boonplu, Rawiwan Chanpakdee, Yukio Morita, Sumalee Boonmar, Napapat Rojanakun, Natnicha Suksriroj, Chollathip Ruekaewma and Titima Tenitsara
Antibiotics 2025, 14(3), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14030235 - 25 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1004
Abstract
Background: Vibrio species are common foodborne pathogens that cause gastrointestinal tract inflammation. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in Vibrio spp. is a global health concern, especially in aquaculture systems and food chain systems. This study aimed to detect Vibrio contamination in food collected from 14 [...] Read more.
Background: Vibrio species are common foodborne pathogens that cause gastrointestinal tract inflammation. Multidrug resistance (MDR) in Vibrio spp. is a global health concern, especially in aquaculture systems and food chain systems. This study aimed to detect Vibrio contamination in food collected from 14 markets in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, and determine their antibiotic susceptibility. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six food samples were investigated for Vibrio contamination. All isolates were tested for antibiogram and biofilm-forming ability. Moreover, the ceftazidime or cefotaxime resistance isolates were additionally investigated for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers. The isolates were additionally examined for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. The ESBL-suspected isolates with moderate-to-high biofilm-forming ability were further analyzed for their whole genome. Results: The prevalence of Vibrio contamination in food samples was 42.65%, with V. parahaemolyticus demonstrating the highest prevalence. Most isolates were resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, followed by aminoglycosides. The overall MDR of isolated Vibrio was 18.29%, with an average multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of 16.41%. Most isolates were found to have β-lactam resistance-related genes (blaTEM) for 41.46%, followed by aminoglycoside resistance genes (aac(6′)-Ib) for 18.29%. Most Vibrio showed moderate to strong biofilm-forming ability, particularly in MDR isolates (92.86%). Two ESBL-suspected isolates, one V. parahaemolyticus isolate and one V. navarrensis, were sequenced. Interestingly, V. parahaemolyticus was an ESBL producer that harbored the blaCTX-M-55 gene located in the mobile genetic element region. While V. navarrensis was not ESBL producer, this isolate carried the blaAmpC gene in the region of horizontal gene transfer event. Remarkably, the Inoviridae sp. DNA integration event was present in two Vibrio genomes. Conclusions: These findings impact the understanding of antibiotic-resistant Vibrio spp. in food samples, which could be applied for implementing control measures in aquaculture farming and food safety plans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens)
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11 pages, 655 KiB  
Article
A National Surveillance of the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Acinetobacter baumannii in Saudi Arabia
by Abrar K. Thabit, Feras S. Alharbi, Anas F. Jawah, Ammar M. Alghamdi, Musaab Y. Miaji, Fatimah Alturki, Nehal Hosin, Mohammed Bazuqamah, Masaad Saeed Almutairi, Hamad Alhamed, Alaa Elhendawy, Dalya Atallah, Abdulaziz A. Humadi, Khalid A. Alfifi, Khadija Alfadel and Khalid Eljaaly
Antibiotics 2025, 14(2), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14020209 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1157
Abstract
Most surveillance studies in Saudi Arabia have been single-centered or did not use the gold standard broth microdilution (BMD) antimicrobial susceptibility test. This is the first study from Saudi Arabia to evaluate the resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii by using BMD on a [...] Read more.
Most surveillance studies in Saudi Arabia have been single-centered or did not use the gold standard broth microdilution (BMD) antimicrobial susceptibility test. This is the first study from Saudi Arabia to evaluate the resistance profiles of Acinetobacter baumannii by using BMD on a national level. Between November 2022 and April 2023, isolates from several infection sites were collected from seven hospitals in seven regions of Saudi Arabia. On testing days, BMD was done following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute standards. Antibiotic susceptibility percentages and MIC50 and MIC90 were calculated. One hundred A. baumannii isolates were included. The highest susceptibility was to tigecycline (39%) and aminoglycosides (22–25%). The MIC90 of all antibiotics were higher than the resistance breakpoint. All isolates (100%) were multidrug-resistant, of which 52% were classified as extensive-drug-resistant, and 42% were identified as pandrug-resistant. The isolates collected from the ear, peritoneal fluid, and the cerebrospinal fluid were all XDR, while 2/3 of the urine isolates (10/15; 66.7%), more than 1/2 of the skin/soft tissue and respiratory isolates (9/16; 56.3% and 22/43; 51.7%, respectively), and 3/8 (37.5%) of the blood isolates met this definition. Conversely, PDR isolates made up 5/8 of blood isolates (62.5%), 8/15 of body fluid isolates (57.14%), and 19/43 (44.2%) of respiratory isolates. A. baumannii showed a surprisingly high resistance to multiple commonly used antibiotics. Infection control policies and antimicrobial stewardship should be implemented by hospitals throughout the country to improve treatment, track resistance trends with local antibiograms, and prevent the development of resistant strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens)
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