Classic and Emerging Pathogens as a Cause of Healthcare-Associated Infections: Current Knowledge and Future Approaches

Dear Colleagues,

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are currently one of the most important public health challenges worldwide. It is estimated that in Europe, 6.5% of patients admitted to an acute care hospital develop an HAI. Moreover, there is growing concern within the scientific community regarding the increasingly widespread and consistent phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. Indeed, microorganisms have gradually developed resistance mechanisms against almost all of the available antibiotics. Specifically, besides classic pathogens already known and studied for a long time, so-called ‘ESCAPE’ microorganisms, new pathogens, such as Candida auris and other new bacteria, are also spreading worldwide. These pathogens are widely spread in hospital environments and surfaces on which they are able to survive for a long period of time; therefore, they can cross-contaminate medical devices with a high risk of passing to patients. Within this cross-contamination, healthcare workers (HCWs) and their behaviours definitely play a leading role.

A remarkable global public health effort is required to confront this ever-growing phenomenon. Current strategies to fight this crucial public health issue especially involve active surveillance, good practises in healthcare, and antimicrobial stewardship. However, novel strategies, such as the study of new materials with intrinsic antimicrobial properties for potential use in the manufacturing of medical devices and hospital surfaces, are receiving great attention from the international scientific community.

In this perspective, the present Special Issue "Classic and emerging pathogens as a cause of Healthcare-Associated Infections: current knowledge and future approaches" aims to collect high-quality, rigorous scientific papers in order to summarize the current knowledge on this pressing public health challenge.

Dr. Alessio Facciolà
Guest Editor

Dr. Antonio Laganà
Guest Editor Assistant

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