With regards to antibiotic dosing:
Look at the diagram below, representing antibiotic drug concentration versus time, and answer the questions below:
a) What does “A” represent? Name one class of antibiotic for which this is important with regards to dosing.
b) What does “B” represent? Name one class of antibiotic for which this is important with regards to dosing.
c) What does “C” represent? Name one class of antibiotic for which this is important with regards to dosing.
College Answer
a)
C MAX: Maximum concentration
Aminoglycosides
b)
AUC > MIC: Area under the curved where drug concentration is greater than MIC
Quinilones
c)
T>AUC above MIC: Time greater than Area under the curved where concentration is greater than MIC
Penicillins, Carbenepenems
Discussion
This question is identical to Question 24.1 from the first paper of 2008.
For the curious, the relevant references are reproduced below.
Additionally, an indepth exploration of antibiotic pharmacokinetics occurs in the Required Reading section.
References
Oh's Intensive Care Manual: Chapter 72 (pp. 738) Principles of antibiotic use by Jeffrey Lipman
Roberts, Jason A., and Jeffrey Lipman. "Pharmacokinetic issues for antibiotics in the critically ill patient." Critical care medicine 37.3 (2009): 840-851.
Craig, William A. "Basic pharmacodynamics of antibacterials with clinical applications to the use of β-lactams, glycopeptides, and linezolid." Infectious disease clinics of North America 17.3 (2003): 479-501.