A hybrid individual-based mathematical model to study bladder infections

Abstract

Introduction : Bladder infections are common, affecting millions each year, and are often recurrent problems. Methods : We have developed a spatial mathematical framework consisting of a hybrid individual-based model to simulate these infections in order to understand more about the bacterial mechanisms and immune dynamics. We integrate a varying bacterial replication rate and model bacterial shedding as an immune mechanism. Results : We investigate the effect that varying the initial bacterial load has on infection outcome, where we find that higher bacterial burden leads to poorer outcomes, but also find that only a single bacterium is needed to establish infection in some cases. We also simulate an immunocompromised environment, confirming the intuitive result that bacterial spread typically progresses at a higher rate. Conclusions : With future model developments, this framework is capable of providing new clinical insight into bladder infections.