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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Current Challenges in Infectious Diseases Post COVID-19 Pandemic
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Current Challenges in Infectious Diseases Post COVID-19 Pandemic

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 4297

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Garyphallia Poulakou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
3rd Department of Internal Medicine and Laboratory, School of Medicine, NKUA, Sotiria General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Interests: viral infections; emerging pathogens; infection control; antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; public health; medical education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

After the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, our diagnostic capabilities have flourished, particularly against viral pathogens. This diagnostic explosion is neither easily implemented nor affordable across countries. What is the new diagnostic holy grail: omics, large panels of biomarkers, or strategies that could support precision medicine (and which ones)? How can less developed countries follow the stream? From the therapeutic viewpoint, we witnessed hundreds of clinical trials leading to the approval of only a handful of drugs against COVID-19. Will it be the mainstay thereafter? Will this clinical trial trend with adaptive design result in new products against multidrug-resistant pathogens that are urgently needed? Authors are welcome to describe their current therapeutic challenges with difficult-to-treat pathogens. Challenges could stem from the pathogen, the host,  the local infrastructures, or financial obstacles. In some countries, there has been a rebound of all previous problems post pandemic. What about infection-control practices after COVID-19? Are there paradigms of hospitals that have reverted to successful infection control strategies after the jeopardy caused by the pandemic? Antibiotics are still over-prescribed in viral infections in hospitals and in the community. What is the impact of this practice currently and what will it be in the years to come? What would be the role of artificial intelligence in all three aspects described above?

Dr. Garyphallia Poulakou
Guest Editor

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. Microorganisms 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 2700 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

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19
  • pandemic
  • viral pathogens
  • Antibiotics

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 1333 KiB  
Article
The Clinical Profile of Pediatric M. pneumoniae Infections in the Context of a New Post-Pandemic Wave
by Mădălina Maria Merișescu, Gheorghiță Jugulete, Irina Dijmărescu, Anca Oana Dragomirescu and Larisa Mirela Răduț
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051152 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an atypical bacterium with a tropism for the respiratory tract, but it can also cause numerous extrapulmonary involvements. The incidence of high rates varies in epidemiological waves, occurring at a frequency of 3–7 years. Since the end of 2023, an [...] Read more.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an atypical bacterium with a tropism for the respiratory tract, but it can also cause numerous extrapulmonary involvements. The incidence of high rates varies in epidemiological waves, occurring at a frequency of 3–7 years. Since the end of 2023, an increase in the incidence of M. pneumoniae infection cases has been noted internationally. We conducted a retrospective study of children hospitalized and confirmed with M. pneumoniae infection in our clinic during the last two epidemiological peaks. We retrieved data from the hospital database and divided the patients into two groups, corresponding to the years 2018–2019 and 2023–2024, respectively. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare the proportions. In the years 2023–2024, we observed a higher incidence of patients with respiratory failure (p = 0.032), pleural reaction (p = 0.016), and pulmonary consolidation (p = 0.016) compared to the group in the years 2018–2019. Gastrointestinal involvement was more frequent in the years 2018–2019 (p = 0.004). The incidence of other extrapulmonary complications did not show significant differences. Infection with M. pneumoniae has varied clinical manifestations. In patients with community-acquired pneumonia, even in cases of consolidation, the possibility of infection with M. pneumoniae must also be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Infectious Diseases Post COVID-19 Pandemic)
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11 pages, 934 KiB  
Article
Cardiac Damage in Patients Infected with Different SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
by Francesco Robert Burkert, Martina Oberhollenzer, Daniela Kresse, Sarah Niederreiter, Vera Filippi, Lukas Lanser, Günter Weiss and Rosa Bellmann-Weiler
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2617; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122617 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3014
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 causes significant morbidity, and different variants of concern (VOCs) can impact organ systems differently. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort analysis comparing biomarkers and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients infected with the wild-type or Alpha (wt/Alpha) VOC against patients infected [...] Read more.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 causes significant morbidity, and different variants of concern (VOCs) can impact organ systems differently. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort analysis comparing biomarkers and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients infected with the wild-type or Alpha (wt/Alpha) VOC against patients infected with the Omicron VOC. We included 428 patients infected with the wt/Alpha VOC and 117 patients infected with the Omicron VOC. The Omicron cohort had higher maximal median high-sensitivity Troponin-T (hs-TnT) levels (wt/Alpha: 12.8 ng/L, IQR 6.6–29.5 vs. Omicron: 27.8 ng/L, IQR 13.7–54.0; p < 0.001) and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (wt/Alpha: 256 ng/L, IQR 74.5–913.5 vs. Omicron: 825 ng/L, IQR 168–2759; p < 0.001) levels. This remained true for patients under 65 years of age and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease (hs-TnT (wt/Alpha: 6.1 ng/L, IQR 2.5–10.25 vs. Omicron: 8.6 ng/L, IQR 6.2–15.7; p = 0.007) and NT-proBNP (wt/Alpha: 63 ng/L, IQR 25–223.75 vs. Omicron: 158 ng/L, IQR 75.5–299.5; p = 0.006)). In-hospital mortality was similar between the two groups (wt/Alpha: 53 or 12.7% vs. Omicron: 9 or 7.7%; p = 0.132) and more patients infected with wt/Alpha VOC required intensive care admission (wt/Alpha: 93 or 22.2% vs. Omicron: 14 or 12%; p = 0.014). Increased cardiac biomarkers were correlated with a higher risk of mortality and ICU admission in both groups. Herein, we detected higher levels of cardiac biomarkers in hospitalized patients infected with the Omicron VOC when compared to wt/Alpha, being indicative of higher cardiac involvement. Although hs-TnT and NT-proBNP levels were higher in the Omicron cohort and both markers were linked to in hospital mortality in both groups, the mortality rates were similar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Infectious Diseases Post COVID-19 Pandemic)
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Other

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11 pages, 1268 KiB  
Systematic Review
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Humoral Immunity in Immunocompetent European Adults: A Systematic Review
by Izabella Bylica, Estera Jachowicz-Matczak, Justyna Brodowicz, Joanna Sułkowska, Monika Bociąga-Jasik, Piotr Heczko, Sebastian Gagatek, Jan Bylica and Jadwiga Wójkowska-Mach
Microorganisms 2025, 13(3), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13030535 - 27 Feb 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 488
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, profoundly impacted global health systems and economies. Vaccination and diagnostic advancements were pivotal in managing the pandemic. This systematic review evaluates antibody levels in adults following complete COVID-19 vaccination and examines the prevalence of infections in vaccinated [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, profoundly impacted global health systems and economies. Vaccination and diagnostic advancements were pivotal in managing the pandemic. This systematic review evaluates antibody levels in adults following complete COVID-19 vaccination and examines the prevalence of infections in vaccinated populations. A systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted, focusing on studies analyzing antibody levels at least 14 days after full vaccination with FDA- or EMA-approved vaccines. Five European studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected. Data were extracted and synthesized from studies involving 6280 participants aged 19 to 105, with an average of 11% having prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Antibody levels were analyzed over time, and the incidence of post-vaccination COVID-19 cases was recorded. The reviewed studies demonstrated that antibody levels peaked shortly after vaccination but gradually declined over time. Individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibited higher antibody titers than those without prior exposure. After the first dose, the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine led to significantly higher antibody levels than the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine, especially in those without prior infection. Across all studies, the incidence of COVID-19 among vaccinated individuals was low (0.1–3.8% for 144–302 days post-vaccination). Vaccination reduced severe outcomes despite decreasing antibody levels. The decline in new COVID-19 cases and related deaths is attributed to widespread vaccination, natural immunity, and virus mutations reducing severity. Further studies are warranted to explore antibody persistence and optimal vaccination strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Infectious Diseases Post COVID-19 Pandemic)
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