Bacterial Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance

Dear Colleagues,

Infections caused by pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria exert a profound impact on global public health. Bacterial infections constitute the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, a situation further exacerbated by the alarming rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a challenge that has become even more pressing in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several bacterial species are recognized as major etiological agents of clinically significant infections, including Staphylococcus aureus (skin and soft tissue infections), Escherichia coli (urinary tract and kidney infections), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia and meningitis), Klebsiella pneumoniae (pneumonia and bloodstream infections), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pneumonia, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections). Other bacterial taxa, such as group B Streptococcus, Enterococcus spp., Neisseria spp., Haemophilus spp., Helicobacter pylori, and Chlamydia trachomatis, are less frequently implicated as primary causative agents of human infections.

The severity of infection is influenced not only by the virulence and pathogenic potential of the bacterial species but also by host-intrinsic factors, including immunocompromised status, extremes of age, and genetic background.

Antimicrobial resistance arises from a convergence of intrinsic genetic mechanisms and anthropogenic factors that accelerate its emergence and dissemination. Key drivers include the excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents in clinical and agricultural contexts, inadequate infection prevention and control practices, insufficient hygiene measures, and the circulation of substandard or falsified pharmaceuticals. At the molecular level, resistance develops through spontaneous mutations and horizontal gene transfer among bacterial populations. The selective pressure imposed by antimicrobial misuse further facilitates the survival and propagation of resistant strains, thereby intensifying the global AMR crisis.

This Special Issue seeks to showcase original research articles and comprehensive reviews that deepen current knowledge on bacterial infections and antimicrobial resistance, encompassing their emerging trends, molecular mechanisms, epidemiological patterns, and future perspectives for research, surveillance, and public health interventions.

Dr. Luiza Pinheiro-Hubinger-Stauffer
Prof. Dr. Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza da Cunha
Guest Editors

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