title: A new modeling approach to the effect of antimicrobial agents on heterogeneous microbial populations.
abstract: We develop a mathematical framework to model the dynamics of the effect of antimicrobial agents on heterogeneous microbial populations of distributed antimicrobial resistance. Our framework uses the concept of cumulants of a distribution. Simplifications that result in easily usable approximation tools are presented. A case study on experimental data exemplifies shortcomings of standard methods and the usefulness of the proposed approach. Suggestions for future development are made.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Engineering Department, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-4004, USA, Nikolaou@uh.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Vincent H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D000077731:Meropenem; D008954:Models, Biological; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013845:Thienamycins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D013845:Thienamycins; D000077731:Meropenem