Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), defined as infections acquired 48 hours after hospital admission or within 30 days of patient care, remain a persistent challenge within global health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated the clinical and operational significance of HAIs, revealing gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC), and underscoring the need for stringent hygiene standards in both clinical and everyday contexts. Factors such as prolonged hospital stays, complex procedures, immunocompromised patients, and invasive devices continue to amplify the risk and rate of HAI and serve as premise for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Recent WHO data show that 7–15% of acute care hospital patients develop at least one HAI. While up to 70% of these infections are preventable, complete elimination may not be a practically achievable target. Instead, continuous improvement through surveillance, investigation into transmission and resistance mechanisms, and the continuous refinement of infection prevention strategies is essential for sustainable progress.
Transmission of HAIs frequently occurs via contaminated surfaces and medical devices such as urinary catheters, ventilators, central venous catheters, and surgical sites with particularly high HAI prevalence in transplant, neonatal, and intensive care wards. Pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., and Acinetobacter can survive on surfaces and medical devices for extended periods, enabling ongoing transmission. To address this, improvement and continuous innovation in surface engineering and antimicrobial materials are important. So far, many strategies have been employed to render surfaces resistant to microbes, including modifying topography, charge and wettability, and using materials like metal ions, cationic compounds, and polymers. Copper surfaces kill microbes by damaging membranes. Other methods embed antimicrobials or use coatings on medical devices and textiles. These innovations highlight the crucial role of surface engineering and antimicrobial materials in preventing healthcare-associated infections.
The aim of this Research Topic is to explore advances in antimicrobial materials to reduce healthcare-associated infections. Studies that explore strategies to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections and that identify mechanisms by which microorganisms maintain their viability and adherence to surfaces are encouraged.
This Research Topic welcomes submissions of original research, reviews, mini reviews, methods and perspectives on, but not limited to, the followings: o Microbial adherence, viability, and related mechanisms on surfaces. o Surveillance of surface-associated HAIs and implicated microbial species. o Assessment and improvement of current infection prevention techniques. o Molecular targets for anti-adhesion and anti-biofilm strategies. o Advances in antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral surfaces. o Standardized test protocols simulating clinical conditions. o Studies demonstrating applications of antimicrobial materials within healthcare to help reduce transmission.
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