Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics in Theory and in Clinical Practice:Antimicrobial Pharmacodynamics in Theory and in Clinical Practice

Abstract

To use antibiotics appropriately, the clinician needs to understand fundamental pharmacodynamic concepts. These concepts are essential, for they form the very basis for therapeutic strategies that maximize clinical benefit while minimizing toxicity to the patient. The objectives of this book are, first, to review the constellation of scientific and medical literature concerning antibiotics and pharmacodynamics. The relevance of this complex information is then synthesized into an easy-to-understand discussion of concept and theory. Finally, the reader is shown how to apply these theories and concepts, with specific examples, to the clinical practice of medicine and pharmacy. In other words, this book takes the reader from the test tube, through the animal and human volunteer laboratory, to the patient’s bedside. The book includes a thorough discussion of the pharmacodynamics of all major classes of the antimicrobial armamentarium. These include penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, carbapenems, monobactams, aminoglycosides, quinolones, macrolides, antifungals, antivirals and others. Additionally, a pharmacodynamic discussion of new classes of antimicrobial agents that are upon the horizon, such as the ketolide antibiotics, is included. This book is unique in that no other text of its kind currently exists. The information that this book provides integrates medical microbiology, clinical infectious diseases, and pharmacokinetics. This book pulls together in one text the essential elements of these disciplines and does so in a very understandable and practical manner. The infectious disease physicians and pharmacists we selected as contributors are eminently qualified and are recognized experts in their field. Moreover, these authors were chosen on the basis of their ability to convey their perspective and expertise lucidly, which makes them ideal teachers. They all agreed that there was a need for such a book and were excited about joining in this venture. This book will find an audience in a large array of healthcare disciplines, including college educators, medical, pharmacy, and microbiology students, infectious disease physicians and pharmacy specialists, medical house staff, clinical and staff pharmacists, clinical microbiologists, and other healthcare decision makers.