title: Mathematical models for the evaluation of antibiotic resistance in hospitals: a systematic review.
abstract: As the appearance and spread of antibiotic resistance is becoming an increasingly serious public health problem, there is a definite need for further studies by simulation, experiment and observation. Mathematical models may provide very useful tools to develop a rationale to extend the effective life of existing and newly introduced antimicrobial agents. In this work we systematically reviewed a number of mathematical models recently presented in the literature, in order to provide a brief and informative tool for public health policy makers, regarding the spread of antibiotic resistance, worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonovas
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Panagiotakos
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Charalambides
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vatopoulos
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008954:Models, Biological; D016134:Organizational Policy; D015163:Superinfection / Q000382:microbiology