Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Drugs

Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes the concentration-time profile of a drug in the body. Pharmacodynamics (PD) correlates the concentration of a drug (e.g., antibiotic) with its effect (ability to kill bacteria).  PK is what the body does to the drug; PD is what the drug does within the body.

Whilst this edition of the Journal is PK/PD of drugs, as the title of the journal suggests, it will concentrate on antibiotics.

It is important to point out that it is easy to monitor the pharmacodynamic effect of noradrenaline, namely, to titrate the drug to a predetermined blood pressure. It is also easy to monitor the PD effect of insulin, specifically monitoring glucose. The PD of antibiotics, however, is not straightforward.

We are realizing that not only is it important to prescribe the correct antibiotic for any infection, it is also important to administer it timeously and in the correct dose such that its PD produces optimal effects.  

Hence, PK/PD of antibiotics is appearing in the literature more commonly, and with this edition, we will provide continuing emphasis on these important issues.