title: Pharmacological rationale for antibiotic treatment of intra-abdominal infections.
abstract: The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic (PK/PD) characteristics of antimicrobial agents are the two fundamental pharmacological components which provide a rationale for choosing therapy for intra-abdominal infections, especially when they are serious. It is well known which of the important PK/PD parameters can potentiate therapeutic efficacy. Antimicrobial agents can be subdivided into categories based on whether their activity depends on concentration or exposure time. Therefore, a correct dosing regimen for the time-dependent molecules (i.e. beta-lactams, linezolid, tigecycline) should prolong the maximum exposure time to maintain serum levels over the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The concentration-dependent molecules, on the other hand, which include aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones, should be administered to reach maximum concentrations, since they are bactericidal in direct proportion to their concentrations and possess a prolonged post-antibiotic effect.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacologia Preclinica e Clinica- Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mazzei
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Novelli
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents