title: The penetration of anti-infectives into the central nervous system.
abstract: The blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, and meninges are a complex and difficult-to-study system charged with protecting the central nervous system (CNS) from toxins, including drugs. Current estimates of CNS drug exposure are limited to CSF to blood ratios, of which area-under-the curve (AUC) estimates provide the most robust measure of drug exposure. Different classes of drugs and individual drugs within classes have different CNS penetration potential that is dependent upon a variety of biologic and pharmacologic factors. Clinical data (AUC and point ratios) regarding the penetration of several anti-infective agents used for the treatment of CNS infections are provided in this article.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology Fellow, Drug Research Unit, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kearney
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Aweeka
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents