Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a seriously ongoing threat to global health, occurring when bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill or block them. The COVID-19 pandemic has both directly and indirectly exacerbated the problem of AMR, as the overuse of antibiotics has accelerated the development of resistance in many pathogens. COVID-19 may have subsided, but AMR continues to pose a significant risk to the effectiveness of global healthcare systems, threatening to reverse decades of progress in combating infectious diseases. The interplay between population health and AMR has become increasingly critical as healthcare practices have shifted in response to the pandemic. Understanding this relationship is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of AMR on population health in a post-COVID context.

The motivation for launching this Collection arises from the urgent need to address the rising tide of AMR as healthcare systems grapple with the long-term effects of the pandemic. Increased antibiotic use during COVID-19 treatment, changes in healthcare access, and disruptions in public health interventions have all contributed to an environment where AMR can thrive. Moreover, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to tackling AMR, involving epidemiology, policymaking, and community health initiatives. This Collection aims to provide a platform for researchers and practitioners to share insights and findings that can inform future strategies to combat AMR while considering the broader implications for population health.

This Collection aims to highlight the multifaceted nature of AMR in a post-pandemic environment. We solicit articles that investigate the particular issues provided by the pandemic in terms of AMR development and containment, examine the impact of AMR on many sectors of healthcare, and propose novel strategies to minimize resistance propagation. Submissions may include original research, policy assessments, program evaluations, and comments on the following major areas:

• Epidemiology and trends of AMR post-pandemic

• Impact of COVID-19 on antibiotic usage

• Surveillance strategies for AMR

• AMR and stewardship

• Prevention and control measures to limit AMR spread

• Policies and programs to promote antibiotic stewardship

• Economic and social implications of AMR

• Global collaboration and initiatives to tackle AMR

By addressing these critical issues, this Collection aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the emerging challenges in antimicrobial resistance in a post-pandemic world and to promote effective strategies to preserve the power of our current antimicrobials.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance; COVID-19; antibiotics; global health; infectious diseases; public health; policy; prevention

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.

Health is shaped by a wide range of interconnected factors, making it a complex and adaptive state that emerges from the interplay of biological, social, emotional, and meaning-making (semiotic) dimensions. As such, improving public health cannot be accomplished through isolated interventions targeting single structural issues or individual diseases. However, medicine and public health research and policies are too often considered through a reductionist, positivist and normative perspective, as epitomised by the influential “disease control” paradigm. This approach limits health to the absence of disease and intends to address the latter by specific “high-impact” or “cost-effective” interventions, neglecting the root causes of ill-health and the complex interplay between individual interventions and (health) systems. This collection invites contributions that demonstrate how systems and complexity thinking can inform and transform public health policy and practice.

The interplay between public health policy and community practice is essential in shaping health outcomes and addressing systemic challenges within health systems. Despite the formulation of comprehensive public health policies, translating these policies into effective community-level interventions often faces numerous obstacles, including resource limitations, bureaucratic inertia, and varying local contexts. Understanding the dynamics between policy intent and on-the-ground implementation is crucial for fostering health equity and improving population health. The ability to navigate these complexities is vital for public health professionals, policymakers, and community practitioners alike. We are particularly interested in articles that showcase practical applications of systems approaches to address real-world public health challenges. We especially encourage submissions from authors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), highlighting efforts to strengthen healthcare systems in their specific contexts.

The purpose of this Collection is to explore the systemic challenges in public health and the strategies employed to overcome them in community settings. We invite contributions that examine case studies, innovative frameworks, and collaborative approaches that enhance policy implementation and address local health needs.

Keywords: public health, health policy, community health, health economics, social determinants of health, political determinants of health, commercial determinants of health, health system, systems thinking, complexity science

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.