Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are by far the most common problem affecting elderly, immunocompromised and/or hospitalized individuals, who are at increased risk of acquiring persistent biomaterial-associated infections (BAIs). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP; 22.8% of HAIs), catheter-associated urinary tract (17.2%), having greatly expanded, are now becoming alarming to humankind due to abnormal therapy costs and high mortality rates (16 million deaths per year) worldwide.
Despite the unquestionable role of indwelling devices in assisting diagnosis and therapeutics, the world is now facing the double challenge of counteracting frequent tenacious microbial colonization of biomaterial surfaces that increase the risk of acquiring BAIs, and of mitigating emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in BAIs due to the spread of multidrug resistant superbugs. Indeed, the widespread use of indwelling devices such as catheters, implantable devices, endotracheal tubes and surgical material, has risen the risk for BAI incidence. To make the scenario worse, BAIs burden is considerably biofilms-attributable. Biofilms, mostly polymicrobial, are of great concern in BAI pathogenesis because of their inherently recalcitrant nature, particularly towards conventional antimicrobial therapies, greatly contributing for the escalation of AMR in nosocomial setting. BAIs are therefore of significant globally public socio-economic concern, urgently requiring global action to counteract or bypass this hurdle.
In this framework, this Research Topic aims to provide current overview of what the world is facing with the BAIs and how the issue of AMR in BAIs is being addressed. Articles making a substantial and up-to-date contribution for scientific community through suitable opportunities/challenges to overcome the global spread of AMR in BAIS are especially welcome. This Research Topic aims, therefore, to gather contributions covering (but not exclusive to) the following topics:
• Exploitation of novel/innovative approaches (e.g. antimicrobials with novel targets or modes of action; antimicrobial combination; anti-virulence and anti-quorum sensing drugs; phage therapy) aimed to reduce microbial/biofilm burden on indwelling devices;
• Design of antimicrobial coatings and/or technologies with potential to reduce colonization and biofilm dissemination on biomaterials;
• Application and validation of novel/advanced tools assisting the diagnosis of BAIs, reliable and easily incorporated into routine clinical testing and providing timely and accurate interventions;
• Investigation of the role of biofilms (virulence/resistance) and of microbial functions/interactions contributing to BAIs pathogenesis and clinical relevance;
• Network perspective approaches exploring antibiofilm and anti-virulence strategies against biofilms associated to BAIs;
• Nanostructured materials, smart surfaces and antibacterial approaches.
Authors are encouraged to contribute with Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Original Research, Opinions or new Technologies and Methods articles. Manuscripts tackling healthcare crisis and major concepts regarding the emergence of AMR in BAIs, providing emerging trends and future directions in combating it, are opportune.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are by far the most common problem affecting elderly, immunocompromised and/or hospitalized individuals, who are at increased risk of acquiring persistent biomaterial-associated infections (BAIs). Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP; 22.8% of HAIs), catheter-associated urinary tract (17.2%), having greatly expanded, are now becoming alarming to humankind due to abnormal therapy costs and high mortality rates (16 million deaths per year) worldwide.
Despite the unquestionable role of indwelling devices in assisting diagnosis and therapeutics, the world is now facing the double challenge of counteracting frequent tenacious microbial colonization of biomaterial surfaces that increase the risk of acquiring BAIs, and of mitigating emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in BAIs due to the spread of multidrug resistant superbugs. Indeed, the widespread use of indwelling devices such as catheters, implantable devices, endotracheal tubes and surgical material, has risen the risk for BAI incidence. To make the scenario worse, BAIs burden is considerably biofilms-attributable. Biofilms, mostly polymicrobial, are of great concern in BAI pathogenesis because of their inherently recalcitrant nature, particularly towards conventional antimicrobial therapies, greatly contributing for the escalation of AMR in nosocomial setting. BAIs are therefore of significant globally public socio-economic concern, urgently requiring global action to counteract or bypass this hurdle.
In this framework, this Research Topic aims to provide current overview of what the world is facing with the BAIs and how the issue of AMR in BAIs is being addressed. Articles making a substantial and up-to-date contribution for scientific community through suitable opportunities/challenges to overcome the global spread of AMR in BAIS are especially welcome. This Research Topic aims, therefore, to gather contributions covering (but not exclusive to) the following topics:
• Exploitation of novel/innovative approaches (e.g. antimicrobials with novel targets or modes of action; antimicrobial combination; anti-virulence and anti-quorum sensing drugs; phage therapy) aimed to reduce microbial/biofilm burden on indwelling devices;
• Design of antimicrobial coatings and/or technologies with potential to reduce colonization and biofilm dissemination on biomaterials;
• Application and validation of novel/advanced tools assisting the diagnosis of BAIs, reliable and easily incorporated into routine clinical testing and providing timely and accurate interventions;
• Investigation of the role of biofilms (virulence/resistance) and of microbial functions/interactions contributing to BAIs pathogenesis and clinical relevance;
• Network perspective approaches exploring antibiofilm and anti-virulence strategies against biofilms associated to BAIs;
• Nanostructured materials, smart surfaces and antibacterial approaches.
Authors are encouraged to contribute with Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Original Research, Opinions or new Technologies and Methods articles. Manuscripts tackling healthcare crisis and major concepts regarding the emergence of AMR in BAIs, providing emerging trends and future directions in combating it, are opportune.