title: Contribution of mathematical modeling to the fight against bacterial antibiotic resistance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Modeling of antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria responsible for human disease has developed considerably over the last decade. Herein, we summarize the main published studies to illustrate the contribution of models for understanding both within-host and population-based phenomena. We then suggest possible topics for future studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Model building of bacterial resistance has involved epidemiologists, biologists and modelers with two different objectives. First, modeling has helped largely in identifying and understanding the factors and biological phenomena responsible for the emergence and spread of resistant strains. Second, these models have become important decision support tools for medicine and public health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Major improvements of models in the coming years should take into account specific pathogen characteristics (resistance mechanisms, multiple colonization phenomena, cooperation and competition among species) and better description of the contacts associated with transmission risk within populations.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité de Pharmacoépidémiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, INSERM U 657, Paris, France. lulla.opatowski@gmail.com
authors.forename: Lulla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Opatowski
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guillemot
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Boëlle
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Temime
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents