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Updated: Aug 26, 2026

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
08:58

Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Published on: March 3, 2023

Persistent colonization and the spread of antibiotic resistance in nosocomial pathogens: resistance is a regional

David L Smith1, Jonathan Dushoff, Eli N Perencevich

  • 1Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220, USA. smitdave@helix.nih.gov

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|February 27, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Asymptomatic carriers significantly contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in hospitals. Tracking these carriers across healthcare systems is crucial for managing ARB epidemics.

Area of Science:

  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mathematical Modeling

Background:

  • Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are a growing threat in hospitalized patients, particularly in intensive care units.
  • The increase in ARB infections may be driven by a rise in asymptomatic carriers entering healthcare facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the dynamics of ARB transmission using structured population models.
  • To investigate the relationship between carrier proportions, transmission rates, and infection risk.
  • To understand the contribution of frequently hospitalized patients to ARB epidemics.

Main Methods:

  • Application of structured population models to simulate ARB dynamics.
  • Analysis of transmission pathways across hospitals, long-term care facilities, and the community.
  • Modeling the interaction between different healthcare settings in ARB spread.

Main Results:

  • Identified asymptomatic carriers as a key factor in the increasing prevalence of ARB in hospitals.
  • Demonstrated how carrier dynamics explain the multi-phasic nature of ARB epidemics.
  • Highlighted the role of transmission in community and long-term care facilities in hospital ARB burden.

Conclusions:

  • Effective management of ARB in tertiary-care hospitals requires regional coordination of infection control strategies.
  • Tracking asymptomatic carriers throughout healthcare systems is essential for controlling ARB spread.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics across diverse healthcare settings is vital for mitigating ARB epidemics.

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