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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition
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Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2025) | Viewed by 3204

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ludwig Knabl

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Guest Editor
Tyrolpath Obrist Brunhuber GmbH, 6511 Zams, Austria
Interests: immunology; longevity research; virology; infectious diseases; innate and adaptive immune response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Johannes Haybaeck

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Guest Editor
Diagnostic and Research Center for Molecular BioMedicine, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
Interests: tumor biology; molecular pathology and oncology; translation initiation factors; protein aggregation diseases; hematopathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Silke Huber

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Guest Editor
Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Interests: bacterial infections; bloodstream infections; molecular diagnostics; antimicrobial resistance; antimicrobial stewardship; infectious diseases; immunology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our 2024 Special Issue “Research on Relevant Clinical Infections”.

Microbial infections have emerged to cause diseases that can be devastating and sometimes fatal to the host. The four main groups of causative pathogens are viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Polymicrobial infections caused by combinations of pathogens are a special case and are becoming more popular. In particular, polymicrobial infections in immunocompromised or very elderly populations continue to pose a serious health threat. However, many infectious diseases are caused by bacterial infections which caused very high mortality rates before antibiotics were discovered. Nowadays, the rapid global spread of pathogens that have acquired new antimicrobial resistance mechanisms is a major global health threat, causing difficult-to-treat infections and are therefore of particular interest to researchers in the clinical setting. Besides tremendous infection-induced mortality rates, especially in children, these diseases often cause severe economic burdens due to prolonged hospital stays, hygiene measurements, and sequels. As a result, there is a significant need to study clinical microbial infections and discover novel tools for their diagnosis and treatment.

This Special Issue aims to present resent findings on various aspect of relevant clinical microbial infections. The main focus points include:

  • Epidemiology and clinical features of microbial infections;
  • Infections in special populations / nosocomial infections;
  • Molecular insights into the pathomechanisms of specific infections;
  • Challenges and advances in the treatment of microbial infections;
  • Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in microbial infections.

Reviews (metanalysis), original research papers, and communications are welcome.

We look forward to your contributions.

Dr. Ludwig Knabl
Prof. Dr. Johannes Haybaeck
Dr. Silke Huber
Guest Editors

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. 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

  • infectious disease
  • microbial infections
  • clinical relevance
  • rapid diagnosis
  • advanced therapy

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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21 pages, 1658 KB  
Article
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonisation in the Patients of a Regional Spinal Cord Injury Unit in Northwest England, United Kingdom: Our Experience with Non-Isolation of VRE Colonised Patients
by Vaidyanathan Subramanian, Bakulesh Madhusudan Soni, Gareth Derick Cummings, Sandra Croston, Kim Lucey, Ruth Hilton and Rachel Hincks
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2257; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102257 - 26 Sep 2025
Abstract
We reviewed vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonisation of inpatients of a spinal cord injury centre. The centre consists of one single occupancy en suite room and ten multi-occupancy rooms where two to six patients stay in a cubicle. These patients share bathroom and toilet [...] Read more.
We reviewed vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonisation of inpatients of a spinal cord injury centre. The centre consists of one single occupancy en suite room and ten multi-occupancy rooms where two to six patients stay in a cubicle. These patients share bathroom and toilet facilities. Active screening for VRE is performed by taking rectal swabs on admission of patients to the spinal unit. The patients, who are colonised with VRE, are not isolated due to constraints in resources. During a twelve-month period (April 2024 to April 2025), 33 patients tested positive for VRE. In April 2025, 17 of 40 in-patients tested positive for VRE. During the last six 12-month periods from 2019, the number of patients testing positive for VRE has shown an upward trend from 18 during 2019–2020 to 33 during 2024–2025. No patient developed systemic infection with VRE (blood stream infection, endocarditis, meningitis, intra-abdominal sepsis, infection of a spinal implant or baclofen pump) during the study period. Twelve patients underwent implantation of a baclofen pump during 2024–2025. No patient developed VRE infection from the implant. We believe that non-isolation of patients colonised with VRE may be a pragmatic approach in a resource-poor healthcare facility. It is possible that non-isolation could have contributed to an increase in the number of patients who became colonised with VRE. Attention should be paid to infection prevention measures including hand washing and environmental cleaning to prevent the spread of VRE colonisation of inpatients and VRE infection of at-risk patients, e.g., immune-compromised individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 1513 KB  
Article
Nitrofurantoin–Aminoglycoside Synergy Against Common Uropathogens Evaluated by Disc Diffusion: A Pilot Study
by Filip Bielec, Monika Łysakowska, Małgorzata Brauncajs, Adrian Bekier, Stanisław Klimaszewski and Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Microorganisms 2025, 13(9), 2117; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13092117 - 10 Sep 2025
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Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogens requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This pilot study assessed the in vitro synergy between nitrofurantoin and aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin) against three major uropathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Ninety [...] Read more.
The emergence of multidrug-resistant uropathogens requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This pilot study assessed the in vitro synergy between nitrofurantoin and aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin) against three major uropathogens: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Ninety clinical isolates were tested using the disk diffusion and double-disk synergy methods. Statistical analysis included Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests, as well as logistic regression models to assess associations between inhibition zone diameters and synergy occurrence. While synergy was observed in all bacterial species, it was neither universally present nor species-specific. Significant associations were identified between nitrofurantoin inhibition zone size and synergy with amikacin and tobramycin in E. coli, and with amikacin in K. pneumoniae. In E. faecalis, synergy was more likely with larger aminoglycoside inhibition zones, particularly tobramycin. These findings underscore the potential of nitrofurantoin–aminoglycoside combinations in treatment of multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections, while emphasizing the need for further studies incorporating quantitative synergy assays and clinical validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition)
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10 pages, 1269 KB  
Brief Report
Rising Threats of MRSA and Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly During COVID-19 in Hong Kong
by Edmond Siu-Keung Ma, Shuk-Ching Wong, Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng, Enoch Hsu, Hong Chen and Edwin Lok-Kin Tsui
Microorganisms 2025, 13(8), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13081912 - 16 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRA) cause significant mortality and morbidity among the elderly population. We conducted a territory-wide point prevalence survey in Hong Kong to estimate the prevalence of MRSA and resistant Acinetobacter among residents of residential care homes of [...] Read more.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter (CRA) cause significant mortality and morbidity among the elderly population. We conducted a territory-wide point prevalence survey in Hong Kong to estimate the prevalence of MRSA and resistant Acinetobacter among residents of residential care homes of the elderly (RCHEs). A total of 26 RCHEs with 1529 residents were recruited, including 20 private homes and 6 non-private homes. The size of the homes ranged from 13 to 135 residents, with a median of 57 residents. Overall, the prevalence rates of MRSA, CRA, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter were 33.9% (95% CI: 31.5–36.3%), 8.1% (95% CI: 6.8–9.6%), and 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.4%), respectively. Private homes had a greater prevalence of MDROs than non-private homes did, whereas RCHEs in the Hong Kong region had a greater prevalence of most resistant organisms, followed by those in the Kowloon region and then those in the New Territories. We detected a high prevalence of MRSA during the COVID-19 pandemic, with additional information on CRA that was not previously known. Continuous surveillance and stringent infection control measures are needed to combat these resistant pathogens among this vulnerable population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1378 KB  
Systematic Review
Fungal Pericarditis—A Systematic Review of 101 Cases
by Predrag Jancic, Stefan Milutinovic, Marshall Ward, Milan Radovanovic, Nikola Jovanovic, Marina Antic, Nikola Nikolajevic, Marija Petrovic, Dorde Jevtic, Adam Adam and Igor Dumic
Microorganisms 2025, 13(4), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13040707 - 21 Mar 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1447
Abstract
Fungal pericarditis is a rare disease but its incidence has risen in parallel with the global increase in invasive fungal infections. This systematic review analyzes data from previously reported cases of fungal pericarditis to provide an improved understanding of the etiology, clinical presentation, [...] Read more.
Fungal pericarditis is a rare disease but its incidence has risen in parallel with the global increase in invasive fungal infections. This systematic review analyzes data from previously reported cases of fungal pericarditis to provide an improved understanding of the etiology, clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of this rare disease. We reviewed Medline and Scopus databases from 1 January 1990 to 29 January 2024 for case reports that documented the isolation of a fungal pathogen from pericardial fluid or tissue. Of the 2330 articles screened, 101 cases met the inclusion criteria. Patients with fungal pericarditis and the involvement of at least one other organ—usually the lungs, brain, or kidney—had worse outcomes than patients with isolated pericardial disease. Immunosuppression was reported in 50% of cases and was associated with worse outcomes in adults. Patients who presented with chest pain, received adequate empiric antifungal therapy, and underwent pericardiocentesis and pericardiectomy had improved survival. The most common isolated pathogens were Candida spp., followed by Aspergillus spp. and Mucor spp., with the latter two linked to worse outcomes. Only 35% of patients received empiric antifungal medications before the causative pathogen was identified, and mortality was associated with a delay in appropriate therapy. Immunosuppression, disseminated disease, and presence of shock/multiorgan failure were additional risk factors associated with death. Fungal pericarditis carries a mortality rate of up to 50%, with nearly half of patients being immunocompromised. Clinicians frequently do not consider fungal pericarditis in the differential diagnoses, which leads to delays in treatment and poorer outcomes. Further prospective multicenter studies are urgently needed to better understand the epidemiology, improve diagnostic testing and management, and decrease unacceptably high mortality in patients with fungal pericarditis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Relevant Clinical Infections: 2nd Edition)
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