Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Hybrid Agent-Based And Differential Equations Model For Simulating Antibiotic Resistance In A Hospital Ward, Lester Caudill, Barry Lawson

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

Serious infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are pervasive, and of particular concern within hospital units due to frequent interaction among health-care workers and patients. Such nosocomial infections are difficult to eliminate because of inconsistent disinfection procedures and frequent interactions among infected persons, and because ill-chosen antibiotic treatment strategies can lead to a growth of resistant bacterial strains. Clinical studies to address these concerns have several issues, but chief among them are the effects on the patients involved. Realistic simulation models offer an attractive alternative. This paper presents a hybrid simulation model of antibiotic resistant infections in a hospital ward, combining …