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Microbial Primer: Challenges and opportunities in the treatment of chronic polymicrobial infections ‒ an

Jennifer M Farrell1,2, Sam P Brown1,2

  • 1Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Microbiology (Reading, England)
|June 20, 2025
PubMed

Insights

This primer explains chronic polymicrobial infections, which are complex, non-resolving infections caused by multiple microbes. Understanding these infections is crucial for developing better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Chronic infections represent a significant and escalating global health challenge.
  • Distinguishing between acute and chronic, and mono- and polymicrobial infections is key to understanding complex infections.
  • The interplay between infection type and microbial presence drives the crisis of chronic polymicrobial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review critical distinctions in infection types: acute vs. chronic and mono- vs. polymicrobial.
  • To elucidate how these distinctions contribute to the growing problem of chronic polymicrobial infections.
  • To propose a research agenda for chronic polymicrobial infections using ecological and evolutionary perspectives.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key distinctions in infection classification.
  • Introduction to the fundamental characteristics of chronic polymicrobial infections.
  • Application of ecological and evolutionary frameworks to infection research.

Main Results:

  • Highlights the increasing burden of chronic polymicrobial infections worldwide.
  • Identifies the synergistic effects of microbial interactions in non-resolving infections.
  • Outlines challenges and opportunities in managing chronic polymicrobial infections.

Conclusions:

  • A clear understanding of infection types is essential for addressing the chronic polymicrobial infection crisis.
  • Ecological and evolutionary perspectives offer valuable insights for future research.
  • Improved strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are urgently needed.
Keywords:
chronic infectioncommunity dynamicsdiagnosticseco-evolutionary dynamicspolymicrobialtreatment

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