Modeling bacterial resistance to antibiotics: bacterial conjugation and drug effects

Abstract Antibiotic resistance is a major burden in many hospital settings as it drastically reduces the successful probability of treating bacterial infections. Generally, associated with fitness reduction and selection pressure from antibiotic usage. Here, we investigate effects conjugation, plasmid loss, drug responses on population dynamics sensitive resistant bacteria by using mathematical model. Two types drugs are considered here: M that kills only N both bacteria. Our results highlight larger dose longer dosing interval may result higher prevalence while they do opposite for N. When delays administering initial second doses incorporated, demonstrate lead to when or administered time remaining at lower latter. switching agents during treatment course different strain characteristics significant impact