Modeling antibiotic resistance in hospitals: the impact of minimizing treatment duration

J Theor Biol. 2007 Dec 7;249(3):487-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2007.08.011. Epub 2007 Aug 25.

Abstract

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a global public health problem. Numerous individual- and population-level factors contribute to the emergence and spread of these pathogens. An individual-based model (IBM), formulated as a system of stochastically determined events, was developed to describe the complexities of the transmission dynamics of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To simplify the interpretation and application of the model's conclusions, a corresponding deterministic model was created, which describes the average behavior of the IBM over a large number of simulations. The integration of these two model systems provides a quantitative analysis of the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and demonstrates that early initiation of treatment and minimization of its duration mitigates antibiotic resistance epidemics in hospitals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / transmission
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / transmission
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Hospitals*
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • Models, Biological*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents