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.

This Collection explores the critical role of health literacy in enabling informed decision-making and empowering individuals in ways that shape their surroundings, behaviors, and attitudes to promote their health and well-being. Health literacy, as the ability to access, understand, appraise, and apply health information, has a profound influence on health behaviors, health related decision making, empowerment and health outcomes.

Given the relational and dynamic nature of health literacy, another key area of interest delves around the antecedents that shape the development of good health literacy and identification of population groups that necessitate special intervention for low levels of health literacy. Moreover, the Collection sheds light on the relevance of health literacy in reducing health inequities, particularly those shaped by socioeconomic disparities.

The scope of this Collection extends across diverse aspects of health literacy (such as generic health literacy, organizational health literacy, mental health literacy, digital health literacy, and planetary health literacy) and their relation to health behaviors, informed decision-making, empowerment, socioeconomic influences.

Topics welcomed in this collection include but are not limited to:

• The relationship between health literacy and health and health behaviors (e.g. physical activity, nutrition, and vaccination)

• The individual and/or shared impact of domain-specific (e.g., mental, digital, planetary) and generic health literacy in shaping health or health behaviors

• The impact of socioeconomic disparities on health literacy

• Interventions and strategies to improve the various aspects of health literacy

• The role of community-based programs, policy changes, and education in promoting equitable health literacy

• Innovative tools, technologies, and approaches for fostering health literacy and behavior change

By highlighting the intersection of health literacy, socioeconomic factors, and health behaviors, this Collection aims to provide valuable insights for reducing health disparities and fostering equitable opportunities for individuals to make healthier, more informed choices.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.