About this Research Topic

Background

Primary and secondary infectious conditions are the most important cause of ICU morbidity, mortality and increased length of hospital stay. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiology of multidrug-resistant and difficult-to-treat strains changed dramatically. New evidence on emergent pathogens entails a new panorama, making the management of infections in critically ill patients challenging. Novel alternatives in the drug arsenal to treat severe infections are increasingly available and are changing current practices worldwide.

Current evidence on diagnosing and managing infections in critically ill patients is overwhelming and disperse.

The aim of this Research Topic is to gather focused and updated evidence-based knowledge on primary and secondary infections in critically ill patients. As new evidence emerges on the epidemiology and management of severe infections, particularly in the post-pandemic era, updated reviews would give healthcare practitioners a practical and quick reference for decision-making to face the different common clinical scenarios.

Topics may include, but are by no means limited to:

• Prevalence and outcomes of infection among critically ill patients.- Infections caused by multidrug-resistant and difficult-to-treat organisms. Epidemiology and novel agents for treatment.
• Biomarkers and innovative tools for diagnosing and managing infections in critically ill patients.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship and prevention of ICU-acquired infections.
• Current perspectives in the management of sepsis and septic shock.
• Respiratory infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia, HAP, vHAP, VAP, COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections.
• Infections of the central nervous system and infections in neurosurgical patients.
• Management of bloodstream infections. Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs).
• Invasive fungal infections in critically ill patients.
• Management of intra-abdominal infections in the ICU.
• Infections in immunocompromised critically ill patients: Infections in solid and hematologic cancer patients, organ transplant patients, HIV, and other groups with drug-induced immunodeficiencies.
• Infections in elderly critically ill patients

Topic editor Erika Plata-Menchaca has shares of the company Loop Diagnostics. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: infections; sepsis; ICU; septic shock; multi-drug resistance; critically ill patients

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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