Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospitals: Infection Control and Antibiotic Use

Dear Colleagues,

The growing issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses one of the most formidable challenges to public health. Hospitals, where most patients reside and where antimicrobial agents are most frequently used, are critical places in this silent pandemic. Central to this crisis is the intricate balance between the necessity of antibiotic use and the imperative to minimize the development of resistance.

In this Special Issue, we aim to delve into the multifaceted strategies required to combat AMR within healthcare settings. Our aim is to explore this balance and offer insights into effective infection control practices, stewardship programs, and innovative approaches to antibiotic use. Key topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Infection Control Measures: Highlighting the critical importance of hygiene practices, surveillance systems, and outbreak management protocols and underscoring infection prevention guidelines to curb the spread of resistant pathogens within hospitals.
• Optimizing Antibiotic Use: Presenting evidence-based strategies, including the implementation of stewardship programs, education and training of healthcare professionals, and the development of policies that promote the judicious use of antimicrobials.
• Research and Technological Advancements: Bringing attention to cutting-edge research and technological advancements that promise to enhance our ability to detect, monitor, and combat AMR. This includes rapid diagnostic tools for the precise and timely identification of pathogens, as well as the development of new antimicrobial agents and alternative therapies.
• Understanding AMR: Investigating the mechanisms, causes, and consequences of clinical antimicrobial resistance to develop effective strategies to mitigate its impact.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Dorota Pastuszak-Lewandoska
Dr. Filip Bielec
Dr. Małgorzata Brauncajs
Guest Editors

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• clinical antibiotic use
• hospital infection control
• healthcare-associated infections
• resistance mitigation strategies
• alternative therapies
• antibiotic stewardship
• molecular mechanisms of AMR
• new therapeutic combinations of antibiotics
• antimicrobial synergy