A University of Liverpool study demonstrates that AI can help doctors more precisely prescribe antibiotics, directly addressing antimicrobial resistance
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare by enabling doctors to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) more precisely. University of Liverpool researchers have developed an AI algorithm that predicts the optimal antibiotic for each patient, combining clinical expertise with data-driven insights. This approach targets antibiotic resistance directly and improves patient treatment options.
How AI is revolutionising antibiotic prescribing
In the new study, the researchers explored a pioneering AI approach to treatment decision-making that combines human judgment and data. The AI algorithm blends the experience of real doctors with data-driven predictions.
Unlike traditional guidelines, the AI uses a utility function to weigh the pros and cons of each antibiotic for each patient. This enables AI to tailor antibiotic selection to individual needs, reducing unnecessary prescriptions, slowing resistance, and focusing care on each patient’s unique situation.
Dr Alexander Howard, from the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics at the University of Liverpool, said: “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.
“In an era where antimicrobial resistance continues to increase, innovative solutions to facilitate precision use of antimicrobials are required – our utility-based system may present such a solution.”
Using smart technology for a safer future
The simulation study used real healthcare data and showed that AI’s unique value lies in making recommendations that match doctors’ quality standards, while being less likely to contribute to antibiotic resistance and more likely to suggest easier-to-administer oral antibiotics rather than those given by drip.
The AI tool has a built-in safety feature that detects when a patient is very sick and prioritises selecting the most effective antibiotic.
This work forms part of the University’s globally-significant and innovative research in the fields of Therapeutics Innovation and Infection Resilience. Antibiotic resistance is a growing global health threat that undermines modern medicine, from routine surgeries to cancer treatments, and drives up healthcare costs. Resistant infections not only increase the risk of severe illness and death but also place a huge burden on healthcare systems, driving up costs and straining resources. By combining cutting-edge research with practical applications, the University aims to develop new strategies and tools, such as AI-driven approaches, to predict, prevent, and manage resistant infections, helping safeguard the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.
Dr Howard concluded: “Further research is now needed across a range of global settings to ensure the results apply more widely, especially in areas where antibiotic resistance has the biggest impact. However, this study shows that using AI alongside doctors’ expertise could improve antibiotic prescribing, help fight resistance, and make treatments safer and more convenient for patients.”