Optimal control of vancomycin-resistant enterococci using preventive care and treatment of infections.
The rising prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is a major health problem in intensive care units (ICU) because of its association with increased mortality and high health care costs. We present a mathematical framework for determining cost-effective strategies for prevention and treatment of VRE in the ICU. A system of five ordinary differential equations describes the movement of ICU patients in and out of five VRE-related states. Two control variables representing the prevention and treatment of VRE are incorporated into the system. The basic reproductive number is derived and calculated for different levels of the two controls. An optimal control problem is formulated to minimize VRE-related deaths and costs associated with prevention and treatment controls over a finite time period. Numerical solutions illustrate optimal single and dual allocations of the controls for various cost values. Results show that preventive care has the greatest impact in reducing the basic reproductive number, while treatment of VRE infections has the most impact on reducing VRE-related deaths.
Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States.
Jonathan
J
Lowden
Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States. Electronic address: neilan@mathcs.duq.edu.
Rachael
R
Miller Neilan
Dept. of Mathematics & Computer Science, Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426, United States.
Mohammed
M
Yahdi
D000465:Algorithms; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050936:Basic Reproduction Number; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008954:Models, Biological; D018803:Models, Economic; D015995:Prevalence; D065507:Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
Basic reproduction number; Drug resistance; Optimal control; Vancomycin-resistant enterococci