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Enhanced disinfection of bacterial populations by nutrient and antibiotic challenge timing

Nihan Acar1, Nick G Cogan1

  • 1Department of Mathematics, 208 Love Building, 1017 Academic Way, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA.

Mathematical Biosciences
|May 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

This study explores how nutrient availability and antibiotic application timing impact bacterial disinfection. Optimizing these factors can improve the eradication of tolerant bacteria, including persister cells, in various settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Mathematical Biology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Difficult-to-treat infections are often caused by tolerant bacteria within biofilms.
  • Bacterial tolerance can be genotypic, phenotypic, or environmental, with persister cells representing a highly tolerant phenotype.
  • Current disinfection protocols are often ineffective against persister bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how manipulating antibiotic application and nutrient availability can enhance bacterial disinfection.
  • To understand the dynamics of susceptible and persister bacterial populations under different treatment conditions.
  • To develop a mathematical model for optimizing antibiotic and nutrient control strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a mathematical model to simulate bacterial population dynamics.
  • Analysis of susceptible and persister bacterial interactions with antibiotic and nutrient variables.
  • Investigation of optimal antibiotic dose-withdrawal timing under various nutrient conditions (constant, dynamic, piecewise constant).

Main Results:

  • Nutrient availability significantly influences the disinfection of both susceptible and persister bacterial populations.
  • The timing of antibiotic application and withdrawal, in conjunction with nutrient levels, is crucial for effective eradication.
  • The study presents a model that captures these complex dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing antibiotic dosing strategies alongside nutrient management is essential for effective bacterial disinfection.
  • This approach holds potential for improving treatments for persistent bacterial infections and applications in food safety and wastewater treatment.
  • Further research into the dynamics of persister cells and their interaction with environmental factors is warranted.
Keywords:
Antibiotic challengeBacterial toleranceNutrient timingPersister formationPoincaré map

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