Using AI to prescribe antibiotics helps curb drug resistance

Israel's Institute of Technology (Technion) said that Israeli scientists have developed an algorithm that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to prescribe antibiotics.

In a study published in the journal Science, researchers from Technion and the KSM Maccabi Center for Research and Innovation (Israel) used gene sequencing and machine learning analysis techniques on the genetic material to be found. patient records.

Israeli scientists have developed artificial intelligence to prescribe antibiotics to reduce the risk of drug resistance.

After focusing on common urinary tract and wound infections, the team demonstrated how to use data on each patient's infection history to select an antibiotic. the most appropriate and effective antibiotics to reduce the risk of developing drug resistance in these patients.

Scientists have found that in most infections, antibiotic resistance is not caused by random mutant bacteria, but by patients re-infected with resistant bacteria. present in their own microbiota.

Therefore, the team recommends that doctors prescribe antibiotics that not only work to stop the bacteria causing the current infection in patients, but also prevent the bacteria, which are already present. in the microbiome of the body, has the potential to become antibiotic-resistant bacteria to replace existing bacteria.

The researchers concluded that data on antibiotic response to past infections in patients could be used to predict the risk that they might develop resistance again during treatment. with antibiotics.