HIERARCHICAL HYBRID SIMULATION MODELING OF BACTERIAL DISEASE INFECTION

Modeling complex global health systems, such as infectious disease dynamics, requires balancing detail with abstraction. A hybrid simulation approach combining System Dynamics (SD) and Agent Based Modeling (ABM) to study bacterial infection spread at both individual and population levels is presented. SD model captures within-host dynamics, focusing on bacterial growth, immune responses, and antibiotic treatment. ABM introduces individual variability and interactions, enabling simulation of infection spread among a population of agents. This integrated framework connects within-host and population-level dynamics, providing a foundation for adding layers of complexity. By simulating different scenarios, the model offers insights into infection dynamics and strategies for managing bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance at the community level.