Therapeutic Strategies for Complicated Hospital-Acquired Infections in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance

Dear Colleagues,

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly when they present as complicated infections in critically ill, immunocompromised, or surgically treated patients, including adults, pediatric and neonatal populations, as well as pregnant women. The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among nosocomial pathogens has further limited therapeutic options, posing significant challenges to effective clinical management.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary therapeutic strategies for complicated hospital-acquired infections in the era of antimicrobial resistance, with a primary focus on bacterial pathogens, followed by resistant fungal infections. Emphasis is placed on multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria commonly implicated in HAIs, including Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Particular attention will be given to novel antibiotics, optimized combination therapies, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic considerations, and individualized treatment approaches in high-risk clinical settings such as intensive care units, oncology wards, transplant units, neonatal and pediatric care units, and obstetric settings.

In addition, the Special Issue will address the growing burden of invasive fungal infections caused by resistant or difficult-to-treat species, including non-albicans Candida, Candida auris, and Aspergillus species, with special consideration of vulnerable populations such as neonates, children, and pregnant patients. Therapeutic challenges related to antifungal resistance, emerging antifungal agents, combination antifungal therapy, and stewardship strategies will be critically discussed.

By integrating microbiological, pharmacological, and clinical perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to bridge the gap between resistance mechanisms and real-world therapeutic decision-making across all age groups and special populations. Contributions focusing on antimicrobial stewardship, clinical outcomes, and translational research are particularly encouraged. Overall, this collection aims to support clinicians and researchers in optimizing the management of complicated HAIs within the broader framework of antimicrobial resistance.

Topics of Interest

• Complicated hospital-acquired infections in adult, pediatric, neonatal, and obstetric populations;
• Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacterial pathogens;
• Therapeutic management of HAIs caused by Enterobacterales, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp., and Staphylococcus aureus;
• Novel antibiotics and antibiotic combinations;
• Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic optimization in critically ill patients;
• Biofilm-associated hospital-acquired infections;
• Antimicrobial stewardship strategies in hospital settings;
• Real-world clinical outcomes and treatment optimization;
• Invasive fungal infections in hospitalized patients;
• Antifungal resistance and emerging antifungal agents;
• Combination antifungal therapies;
• Mixed bacterial–fungal hospital-acquired infections.

Types of Articles

• Original Research Articles
• Narrative Reviews
• Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
• Brief Communications

Dr. Andreas G. Tsantes
Dr. Rozeta Sokou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• hospital-acquired infections
• antimicrobial resistance
• multidrug-resistant pathogens
• novel antibiotics
• antimicrobial stewardship
• invasive fungal infections