Impact of Mobility on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus among Injection Drug Users

Soyeon Kim,Folashade B Agusto

doi:10.3390/antibiotics8020081

Abstract

In this study, we develop and present a deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among injection drug users. The model consists of non-injection drug users as well as low-and high-risk injection drug users (IDUs). The model further incorporates the movement of these individuals between large metro, suburban and rural areas. The model parameters were estimated by fitting the model to the 2008–2013 disease prevalence data for non-IDUs obtained from the Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ), as well as the 2009–2013 Census Bureau data for the number of individuals migrating between three different counties in Kansas. Sensitivity analysis was implemented to determine the parameters with the most significant impact on the total number of infected individuals; the transmission probability, recovery rates, and positive behavioral change parameter for the subgroup have the most significant effect on the number of infected individuals. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the parameters in the different areas was the same when the areas are disconnected. When the areas are connected, the parameters in large-metro areas were the most sensitive, and the rural areas were least sensitive. The result shows that to effectively control the disease across the large metro, suburban and rural areas, it is best to focus on controlling both behavior and disease in the large metro area as this has a trickle-down effect to the other places. However, controlling behavior and disease at the same time in all the areas will lead to the elimination of the disease.

Highlights

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacteria resistant to antibiotics, methicillin
We extended the model developed in [14] to include the movement of individuals between different patches
The goal of the study is to determine how such mobility of individuals within the different patches will affect interventions either those targeting individuals behavior or those aimed at curtailing the disease transmission and spread

Summary

Introduction

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacteria resistant to antibiotics, methicillin. It affects the subcutaneous tissue of the skin and often starts as a painful red bump that looks like a pimple or a spider bite. MRSA is transmitted when a healthy individual comes in direct contact with an infected person with an open wound or an infected tissue or secretions. It can be contracted indirectly from contaminated surfaces, objects, or materials contaminated with the bacteria by an infected person; the contaminated fomites can remain infectious for months [3]. A healthy individual becomes colonized with the bacteria until the MRSA bacteria finds an opportunity to infect the soft tissue of the skin [4]

Objectives

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion