The path of least resistance: aggressive or moderate treatment?
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
11-7-2014
Journal
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Volume
281
Issue
1794
Inclusive Pages
20140566
Keywords
Anti-Infective Agents--administration & dosage; Biological Evolution; Drug Resistance, Microbial--genetics; Infection--drug therapy
Abstract
The evolution of resistance to antimicrobial chemotherapy is a major and growing cause of human mortality and morbidity. Comparatively little attention has been paid to how different patient treatment strategies shape the evolution of resistance. In particular, it is not clear whether treating individual patients aggressively with high drug dosages and long treatment durations, or moderately with low dosages and short durations can better prevent the evolution and spread of drug resistance. Here, we summarize the very limited available empirical evidence across different pathogens and provide a conceptual framework describing the information required to effectively manage drug pressure to minimize resistance evolution.
APA Citation
Kouyos, R. D., Metcalf, C. J. E., Birger, R., Klein, E. Y., Abel zur Wiesch, P., et al. (2014). The path of least resistance: aggressive or moderate treatment? Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281(1794), 20140566.
Peer Reviewed
1
Open Access
1
Comments
This is an open access PubMed Central article. Click on link for full-text access.