Currently in the UK, TDM is routinely performed for aminoglycosides and glycopeptide antimicrobial agents, given fears over the narrow therapeutic window of these agents and the serious adverse events associated with toxicity. However, in critical care the role of TDM for optimisation of therapy has been demonstrated to help optimise dosing of patients who tend to have variable pharmacokinetic parameters (J. A. Roberts et al,). This is of growing importance given that low concentrations of antimicrobial agents, below a micro-organisms minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is believed to be a major driver of AMR. The investigators set out to explore whether similar observations in PK-PD target variability are currently being observed across the secondary care setting (outside of critical care) and whether these appear to be impacting on clinical outcomes.
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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Fraction of the Dosing Interval Over Which the Concentration of Unbound Drug is Greater Than the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (fT>MIC)
Timeframe: Two to 10 samples taken during the first 120 hours of antimicrobial therapy