Antibiotic Pharmacodynamic METHODS IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY

The discovery of antibiotics is often considered one of man’s greatest achievements, but often the clinical and microbiologic outcome depends upon the skill of the clinician directing therapy. Over the last 30 years, two new sciences, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, have increased our understanding of antibiotic behavior in the human host and how these agents interact with bacteria. In vitro and In vivo pharmacodynamic modeling characterizes antibiotic performance against specific bacterial pathogens as concentration dependent (time independent) or concentration independent (time dependent). Such knowledge can influence antibiotic delivery methods and determine whether desired pharmacodynamic outcome parameter values will be achieved. As a result, continuous infusion or extended infusions of beta-lactam antibiotics or a single daily dose of aminoglycosides are now commonplace strategies used to optimize antibiotic presentation.