MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Researchers at Auburn University Montgomery are now using artificial intelligence to predict a common bacterial infection.
Researchers at AUM are using this developing technology to pave the way for more targeted treatments of one of the most common bacterial infections- urinary tract infections, or UTIs.
The use of artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding, with 78% of organizations reporting using AI in 2024. This is up 55% from the previous year, according to Stanford’s 2025 AI Index.
“Machine learning is going to play a much bigger role in infectious disease treatment,” Dr. Li Qian, associate professor of medical and clinical laboratory science, said.
These researchers say every region has its own unique microbial landscape; therefore, bacteria in central Alabama may be resistant to different antibiotics than national data may indicate. They’ve partnered with Baptist South to access this regional data for their models.
“To be very specific to our region and to really find the properties of our local demographic and the patterns we’re seeing, it would be the best for our local practitioners to implement our model versus using the national average,” Dr. Lucy Yuan Zhang, assistant professor of management information systems, said.
In the future, they hope doctors can use what they have found to be the most effective model for central Alabama to deliver more personalized and responsive approaches to UTI treatment.
Dr. Quian says if the technology is implemented thoughtfully, it could help clinicians get real-time resistance predictions to support faster and more accurate treatments.
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