{"title":"How Missed Doses of Antibiotics Affect Bacteria Growth Dynamics.","authors":"Hwai-Ray Tung, Sean D Lawley","doi":"10.1007/s11538-025-01430-4","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>What should you do if you miss a dose of antibiotics? Despite the prevalence of missed antibiotic doses, there is vague or little guidance on what to do when a dose is forgotten. In this paper, we consider the effects of different patient responses after missing a dose using a mathematical model that links antibiotic concentration with bacteria dynamics. We show using simulations that, in some circumstances, (a) missing just a few doses can cause treatment failure, and (b) this failure can be remedied by simply taking a double dose after a missed dose. We then develop an approximate model that is analytically tractable and use it to understand when it might be advisable to take a double dose after a missed dose.</p>","PeriodicalId":9372,"journal":{"name":"Bulletin of Mathematical Biology","volume":"87 5","pages":"58"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Bulletin of Mathematical Biology","FirstCategoryId":"100","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-025-01430-4","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
What should you do if you miss a dose of antibiotics? Despite the prevalence of missed antibiotic doses, there is vague or little guidance on what to do when a dose is forgotten. In this paper, we consider the effects of different patient responses after missing a dose using a mathematical model that links antibiotic concentration with bacteria dynamics. We show using simulations that, in some circumstances, (a) missing just a few doses can cause treatment failure, and (b) this failure can be remedied by simply taking a double dose after a missed dose. We then develop an approximate model that is analytically tractable and use it to understand when it might be advisable to take a double dose after a missed dose.
期刊介绍:
The Bulletin of Mathematical Biology, the official journal of the Society for Mathematical Biology, disseminates original research findings and other information relevant to the interface of biology and the mathematical sciences. Contributions should have relevance to both fields. In order to accommodate the broad scope of new developments, the journal accepts a variety of contributions, including:
Original research articles focused on new biological insights gained with the help of tools from the mathematical sciences or new mathematical tools and methods with demonstrated applicability to biological investigations
Research in mathematical biology education
Reviews
Commentaries
Perspectives, and contributions that discuss issues important to the profession
All contributions are peer-reviewed.