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 317

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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
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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

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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 (1 paper)

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Research

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 98
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
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