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Diagnostics
Special Issues
Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance: Diagnosis and Management
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Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance: Diagnosis and Management

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1711

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Georgina Tzanakaki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Meningitis Reference Laboratory, Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
Interests: bacterial meningitis; N. meningitidis; S. pneumoniae; H. influenzae
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue addresses the growing global challenge of bacterial infections and the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It explores innovative diagnostic approaches, including rapid molecular techniques, next-generation sequencing, and point-of-care testing, which enable early and accurate identification of pathogens and resistance patterns. This Special Issue also highlights the critical role of antimicrobial stewardship programs in optimizing the use of antibiotics and combating resistance. Advances in alternative therapies, such as phage therapy, immunotherapies, and novel antimicrobial agents, are discussed as promising strategies to address multidrug-resistant infections. Additionally, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in infection management are examined for their potential to enhance diagnostics and treatment decision-making. Contributions from leading experts emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach, combining microbiology, clinical practice, and public health initiatives, to tackle AMR effectively. This collection not only provides a comprehensive overview of current challenges but also outlines future directions for research and policy, aiming to improve patient outcomes and mitigate the global threat of AMR.

Prof. Dr. Georgina Tzanakaki
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 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. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • bacterial infections
  • antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
  • diagnostic innovations
  • molecular diagnostics
  • antimicrobial stewardship
  • multidrug-resistant pathogens
  • alternative therapies
  • artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1038 KB  
Article
Rapid Identification of Carbapenemase Genes Directly from Blood Culture Samples
by Ghada A. Ziad, Deena Jalal, Mohamed Hashem, Ahmed A. Sayed, Sally Mahfouz, Ahmed Bayoumi, Maryam Lotfi, Omneya Hassanain, May Tolba, Youssef Madney, Lobna Shalaby and Mervat Elanany
Diagnostics 2025, 15(19), 2480; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15192480 - 28 Sep 2025
Viewed by 501
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The rapid identification of carbapenemase genes directly from positive blood culture (BC) samples shortens the time needed to initiate optimal antimicrobial therapy for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infections. Several commercial automated PCR systems are available for detecting CPE resistance genes but are expensive. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The rapid identification of carbapenemase genes directly from positive blood culture (BC) samples shortens the time needed to initiate optimal antimicrobial therapy for Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales (CPE) infections. Several commercial automated PCR systems are available for detecting CPE resistance genes but are expensive. The Xpert® Carba-R assay (Cepheid GeneXpert System) has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of carbapenamase genes from bacterial colonies or rectal swabs, with an affordable price. This assay was not used for positive BC testing of CPE resistance genes. Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS) for resistance genes can be used as the gold standard at a research level. In this study, we evaluated the performance of the Xpert® Carba-R assay for the early detection of carbapenamase genes directly from positive BCs, using WGS as the gold standard. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at Children’s Cancer Hospital-Egypt (CCHE-57357). All positive BCs underwent direct gram staining and conventional cultures. A total of 590 positive BCs containing Gram-negative rods (GNRs) were identified. The Xpert® Carba-R assay was used to detect carbapenemase genes directly from the positive BC bottle compared with WGS results. Results: Among the 590 GNR specimens, 178 were found to carry carbapenemase genes using the Xpert® Carba-R assay, with results obtained in approximately one hour. The main genotypes detected were blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, and dual blaNDM/blaOXA-48-like at 27%, 29%, and 33%, respectively. The agreement between Xpert® Carba-R assay and WGS results was almost perfect for the genotype resistance pattern of isolates and individual gene detection. Conclusions: The use of the Xpert® Carba-R assay directly from BC bottles was an easy-to-use, time-saving, affordable tool with high accuracy in identifying carbapenemase genes and, thus, shortens the time needed to initiate optimal antimicrobial therapy for CPE infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance: Diagnosis and Management)
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14 pages, 3168 KB  
Article
Development of SNP-LAMP Combined with Lateral Flow Dipstick to Detect the S531L rpoB Gene Mutation in Rifampicin-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
by Jutturong Ckumdee, Monpat Chamnanphom, Supaporn Wiwattanakul, Somchai Santiwatanakul, Kwanchai Onruang and Thongchai Kaewphinit
Diagnostics 2025, 15(17), 2183; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15172183 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 939
Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a primary global health concern, despite the widespread availability of effective chemotherapeutic interventions. The emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, particularly those exhibiting resistance to rifampicin, present significant obstacles to the success of TB control [...] Read more.
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a primary global health concern, despite the widespread availability of effective chemotherapeutic interventions. The emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, particularly those exhibiting resistance to rifampicin, present significant obstacles to the success of TB control programs. Consequently, there is an urgent need for rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular diagnostic tools to inform timely clinical decision-making and reduce the transmission of disease. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has gained attention as a promising alternative to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. This method, which facilitates DNA amplification under constant temperature conditions, offers advantages including high specificity, rapid turnaround time, and operational simplicity—features that render it especially suitable for implementation in resource-limited settings. Methods: In this study, a LAMP assay targeting the rpoB gene was developed, with particular focus on detecting the codon 531 C→T mutation associated with rifampicin resistance. A set of four to six primers was designed to recognize six distinct regions of the target sequence. Allele-specific amplification was achieved by incorporating a deliberate single nucleotide mismatch at the 3′ terminus of the B2 primer to enable precise discrimination between wild-type and mutant alleles. The assay was conducted at an optimized temperature of 61 °C for 60 min, followed by visual detection using a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) within five minutes. Results: The LAMP-LFD assay demonstrated 100% concordance with drug susceptibility testing (DST) and DNA sequencing. No cross-reactivity with wild-type strains was observed, underscoring the assay’s high specificity. Conclusions: This platform offers a robust, field-deployable solution for detecting the codon 531 C→T mutation associated with rifampicin resistance in low-resource settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance: Diagnosis and Management)
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