AHRQ Research Review Finds Utility of Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics for Antibiotic Dosing in Pneumonia Patients Unclear

A new research review from AHRQ has found that, despite the potential advantages of improving intravenous (IV) therapy antibiotic dosing using principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia, no conclusions can be drawn because of major gaps in evidence. According to the research review, “Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Measures for Guiding Antibiotic Treatment for Nosocomial Pneumonia,” the available research is inconclusive as to whether including PK/PD measures in decisions about dosing or monitoring IV antibiotic treatment improves outcomes. Future research may include large-scale studies designed to compare PK/PD strategies in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia. The review says two primary goals of this research should be to document the clinical impact of different dosing strategies and to determine their effects on the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria.