Immunocompromised populations are individuals with weakened immune systems. They have reduced abilities to fight against infectious diseases, making them more susceptible to bacterial infection. Both treatment and prevention of infections in immunocompromised patients can be challenging. The following problems and difficulties are found in controlling infections in these patients.

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics have accelerated the rise of resistant bacteria, which is especially problematic in healthcare settings where immunocompromised individuals frequently visit. For vulnerable populations, prolonged courses of antibiotics are necessary for controlling infections but also increase the chances of selecting resistant bacteria. Diagnostic challenges in infection diseases in immunocompromised populations further complicate treatment. Infections in these patients may present atypically or be difficult to detect in the early stage, leading to delayed appropriate intervention.

Prevention strategies including hand hygiene, sterilization of medical equipment, and isolation protocols are essential in controlling infections in healthcare settings. Epidemiology studies providing the monitoring of pathogen spreading among immunocompromised patients and bacterial colonization in healthcare staff are also an urgent need. Other prevention protocols, such as vaccination strategies and prophylactic antibiotics, are also not well-developed in these populations. The complexity of bacterial adaptation in immunocompromised hosts might vary based on specific immune deficiencies of the patients. A one-size-fits-all approach is insufficient for immunocompromised individuals in the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

All these problems call for more attention from researchers studying infectious diseases in these more vulnerable individuals. By focusing research efforts on these differentiated approaches, we can better protect immunocompromised populations from the rising threat of bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance.

Researchers are invited to contribute to this theme by delving into topics such as:

-Epidemiology of opportunistic bacteria infection in immunocompromised patients (patients with chronic diseases, cancer, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, etc.)

-Bacteria-host interactions in immunocompromised hosts

-Immunocompromised animal models for the study of infectious diseases

-Biotherapeutic interventions in the treatment of infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients

-Assessing the effectiveness of novel vaccines or therapeutics in animal models

-Mechanisms of bacterial evasion in immunocompromised hosts

-Microbiome disruption in bacterial pathogenesis in immunocompromised hosts

-Biofilm formation in persistent infection in immunocompromised patients

-Biomarkers for early diagnosis of bacterial infections in different types of immunocompromised patients

-Identifying challenges and opportunities in infectious diseases in immunocompromised patients

This research initiative promotes an in-depth understanding of these areas, with the goal of nurturing collaboration and synergy among scientists. Through these efforts, we aim to accelerate progress in the development of better strategies for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infection in immunocompromised populations.

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Antibiotic Resistance and Bacterial Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts