Antimicrobial and Antibacterial Agents

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Antimicrobials

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) play a crucial role in understanding the behavior and efficacy of antimicrobial drugs within the body. Pharmacokinetics refers to how the body processes a drug, including absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, focuses on how a drug interacts with its target microorganism and exerts its antimicrobial effect. In the context of antimicrobials, studying PK/PD parameters helps optimize dosing regimens to achieve optimal drug concentrations at the site of infection while minimizing toxicity and the risk of antimicrobial resistance.