Project Antibiotic resistance and human behavior

Activity summary

Our research activities address the issues surrounding antibiotic resistance (AMR) in two main areas: analysis of public prescribing policies and mathematical modelling of multiple contaminations.

In the first area, we are looking at the impact of public policies, such as financial incentives and information campaigns, on doctors’ prescribing behaviour, while taking socio-economic disparities into account. For example, financial incentives are particularly effective in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, whereas social returns, such as letters from the medical authorities, are less effective in these contexts. These analyses highlight the need for differentiated strategies to maximise the impact of interventions.

The second area explores the dynamics of resistance using epidemiological and eco-evolutionary models that take into account multiple routes of contamination (direct and environmental). These models include pathogenic mutations and their interactions in different compartments, such as the environment and human hosts. The aim is to understand how evolutionary pressures and human behaviour influence the spread of resistance, particularly via emerging pathogens.

By integrating these two dimensions, the work aims to propose optimised policies and tools to reduce the spread of AMR, by combining the results of mathematical simulations with economic and behavioural approaches.
This global approach is essential if we are to devise effective strategies to deal with the global health emergency posed by antibiotic resistance.