Implications of stress-induced genetic variation for minimizing multidrug resistance in bacteria.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Antibiotic resistance in bacterial infections is a growing threat to public health. Recent evidence shows that when exposed to stressful conditions, some bacteria perform higher rates of horizontal gene transfer and mutation, and thus acquire antibiotic resistance more rapidly.

Methods

We incorporate this new notion into a mathematical model for the emergence of antibiotic multi-resistance in a hospital setting.

Results

We show that when stress has a considerable effect on genetic variation, the emergence of antibiotic resistance is dramatically affected. A strategy in which patients receive a combination of antibiotics (combining) is expected to facilitate the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria when genetic variation is stress-induced. The preference be

SUBMITTER: Obolski U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3482572 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature