Bridging Gaps in Perinatal and Neonatal Infection Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Perinatal and neonatal infections are critical concerns within neonatology and maternal-fetal medicine, representing a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among newborns globally. Despite significant improvements in neonatal intensive care and maternal health, infants remain vulnerable to infections acquired during pregnancy, at delivery, or in the early postnatal period. These infections are characterized by complex and dynamic interactions between the developing host immune system and diverse pathogens, resulting in heterogeneous clinical presentations and outcomes. Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying susceptibility, immune dysregulation, microbial invasion, and systemic inflammation is essential to improve early diagnosis, targeted therapy, and preventive strategies.Major clinical challenges arise from the non-specific presentations of these infections, immature immune systems in neonates, limitations in traditional diagnostics, and the rapidly shifting landscape of pathogen epidemiology. Recent studies highlight the impact of infections such as sepsis and meningitis on acute and long-term outcomes, including a heightened risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Moreover, increasing antimicrobial resistance and discrepancies in healthcare practices worldwide further complicate both prevention and management.Emerging diagnostic technologies, evolving antimicrobial stewardship practices, and greater emphasis on preventive care have begun to reshape the management of perinatal and neonatal infections. Notable progress includes advancements in point-of-care diagnostics, implementation of novel biomarkers, and more judicious use of antibiotics aimed at minimizing resistance. However, the field still faces critical gaps in early recognition and risk stratification, optimal management protocols, adaptation to emerging pathogens, and effective infection control, especially in resource-limited settings. Ongoing debates persist around balancing rapid intervention with the risks of overtreatment, revealing a continued need for robust translational research, real-world data, and collaborative clinical strategies.This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of contemporary advances in the pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and management of perinatal and neonatal infections. By integrating perspectives spanning maternal, perinatal, and neonatal care, we seek to address key challenges such as early identification of infection, improved risk stratification, novel treatment options, strategies for antimicrobial stewardship, and innovative approaches for prevention and outbreak control. A particular focus will be placed on leveraging new technologies and collaborative models to bridge gaps in knowledge and practice.The scope of this Research Topic is centered on perinatal and neonatal infections across the continuum from pregnancy through to the neonatal period, including all care settings from the delivery room to neonatal intensive care units. Research exploring population-based data, clinical trials, translational investigations, and multidisciplinary perspectives will all be considered. To gather further insights in this domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions in perinatal and neonatal infections• Immune development, immune dysregulation, and susceptibility to infection in newborns• Epidemiology, diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis• Maternal and perinatal infections, including mechanisms of vertical transmission and preventive interventions• Neonatal meningitis and invasive bacterial infections• Advances in diagnostic approaches, such as molecular techniques, biomarkers, and point-of-care tools• Principles and applications of antimicrobial stewardship in maternal and neonatal settings• Prevention and management of multidrug-resistant organisms and healthcare-associated infections in neonatal units• Outbreak investigation and device-related infections in the NICU environment• Influence of the microbiome, probiotics, and neonatal immune development on infection risk• Long-term outcomes and follow-up after perinatal and neonatal infectionsArticle types welcomed include original research articles, systematic or narrative reviews, mini-reviews, clinical perspectives, brief research reports, case series, and case reports. Contributions from multidisciplinary teams are especially encouraged. Topic Editor Dr. Chiara Minotti and Topic Coordinator Dr. Chloé Schlaeppi have received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme through the NeoIPC Project. Topic Editor Dr. Kerstin Jost has received a grant from the Machaon Foundation to study the microbiome and infections. Topic Editor Dr. Francesca Miselli declares no potential conflicts of interest. Topic editors: Chiara Minotti, Francesca Miselli, Kerstin Jost Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76798/bridging-gaps-in-perinatal-and-neonatal-infection-prevention-diagnosis-and-treatment