On the network suppression of the pathogen spread within the healthcare system

In the paper, we describe the transfer of patients in the healthcare system by SIS-type equations coupled by impulses at fixed times. The first aim for these considerations is to provide a rigorous mathematical analysis of a general theoretical model, which incorporates the structure of patients' transfers. Based on theoretical results, we disprove the intuitions taken from decoupled systems, showing a damping of infection in the case when the transmission rate is locally higher than the recovery rate. Observations on network suppression of pathogen spread allow us to indicate units prone to the high prevalence and propose, possibly low-cost, interventions reducing the infection spread in a whole system. Core results combine the dynamical and structural properties of a system. Finally, we consider a model of the transmission of hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant bacteriae infections, based on real patient hospital records provided by the German insurance company - AOK Lower Saxony, to ilustrate the theoretical considerations.& COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

In this paper, the transfer of patients in the healthcare system is described using SIS-type equations coupled by impulses at fixed times. The mathematical analysis of a general theoretical model incorporating the structure of patients' transfers is provided. The results disprove intuitions from decoupled systems and demonstrate the damping effect on infection when the transmission rate is locally higher than the recovery rate. Observations on network suppression of pathogen spread allow for identification of high-prevalence units and propose interventions to reduce infection spread in the entire system. The core results combine system dynamics and structural properties. A model of hospital-acquired multidrug-resistant bacteria infections is considered to illustrate the theoretical considerations.