Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Drugs
A section of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Section Information
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.
Editorial Board
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- PK/PD Models for Optimizing Antibiotic Use and Avoiding Drug-Drug Interaction (Deadline: 20 December 2024)
- Pharmacokinetic and Antibiotic Dosing for Intensive Care Unit Patients (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship and Optimizing Antibiotic Dose in Critically Ill Patients (Deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacy of Antimicrobial Agents, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Dosing Regimens in Intensive Care Units (Deadline: 30 September 2025)
