Abstract

--- - Background Patient exposure to antibiotics promotes the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. The aim of this study was to identify whether the temporal dynamics of resistance emergence at the individual-patient level were predictable for specific pathogen-drug classes. Methods Following a systematic review, a novel robust error meta-regression method for dose-response meta-analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for carrying resistant bacteria during and following treatment compared to baseline. Probability density functions fitted to the resulting dose-response curves were then used to optimize the period during and/or after treatment when resistant pathogens were most likely to be identified. Results Studies of Streptococcus pneumoniae treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics demonstrated a peak in resistance prevalence among patients 4 days after completing treatment with a 3.32-fold increase in odds (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.71-6.46). Resistance waned more gradually than it emerged, returning to preexposure levels 1 month after treatment (OR, 0.98 [95% CI, .55-1.75]). Patient isolation during the peak dose-response period would be expected to reduce the risk that a transmitted pathogen is resistant equivalently to a 50% longer isolation window timed from the first day of treatment. Conclusions Predictable temporal dynamics of resistance levels have implications both for surveillance and control. - Antibiotic resistance temporality following drug exposure is assessed. A novel robust error meta-regression method for dose-response meta-analysis finds odds of beta-lactam-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae peak 4 days after treatment completion. Resistance surveillance should target this temporal peak.