Infections in Vulnerable Populations

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Special Issue titled "Infections in Vulnerable Populations" in Infectious Disease Reports, a respected journal in the field of infectious diseases.

The aim of this Issue is to provide a dedicated platform to shed light on the disproportionately high burden of infectious diseases among marginalized groups, including individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty, those living in high-density communities, refugees—especially women and children—immigrants, people residing in long-term care facilities with mental or physical disabilities, and populations living in conflict zones.

The ongoing global infectious threats, coupled with shifting geopolitical landscapes, underscore the urgent need for targeted research on these often-overlooked populations. Factors such as inadequate sanitation, food insecurity, social segregation and stigma, limited access to healthcare, inappropriate antibiotic use, and disrupted vaccination programs compound their vulnerability and impede effective prevention and disease management.

Notably, the prevalence of foodborne, zoonotic, and sexually transmitted infections is higher within these groups. The breakdown of immunization programs and the overuse or misuse of antimicrobials in unstable living conditions—such as war zones and insecure housing—further challenge efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance.

While these populations lack coordinated advocacy and a strong voice, their plight calls for increased data, research, and tailored interventions.

We invite you to contribute original research articles, brief reports, reviews, case studies, opinions, or perspectives that explore these issues, identify existing gaps, and propose innovative solutions.

Join us in advancing understanding and promoting equitable healthcare for society's most vulnerable groups. We look forward to your valuable contributions.

Dr. Botond Lakatos
Prof. Dr. Francesco Di Gennaro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infectious Disease Reports is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• infectious diseases
• vulnerable populations
• infections in LMICs
• tuberculosis
• HIV
• refugee health
• antimicrobial resistance
• AMR
• vaccine disruption
• sexually transmitted infections
• foodborne infections
• zoonotic infections
• migrant health
• homeless
• stigmatization