Antibiotic therapy has undergone enormous changes since the discovery of penicillin by Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928. 1. Today, clinicians face increasing reports of antibiotic resistance. Optimizing antibiotic regimens can maximize effectiveness and minimize adverse effects while decreasing the likelihood of the development of resistance. The task of designing optimal antibiotic dosing regimens incorporates pharmacodynamics (PDs), pharmacokinetics (PKs), and microbiological principles. PKs consist of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, with these parameters reflecting drug exposure over time. The relationship between drug exposure and the physiologic effect of the drug encompasses the principles of PDs. With antibiotic therapy, PDs incorporate exposure to the antibiotic and antimicrobial effect. The intricate relationship between these principles enhances the understanding of the efficacy of antibiotic therapy.
Employers Face Barriers With Adopting Biosimilars
March 1st 2022Despite the promise of savings billions of dollars in the United States, adoption of biosimilars has been slow. A roundtable discussion among employers highlighted some of the barriers, including formulary design and drug pricing and rebates.