Single daily dose and simplified dosing regimens as a method to improve antibiotic therapy.

Abstract

Pharmacists can be an important member of the patient care team by assisting with the development of dosing regimens. By optimizing the pharmacokinetic properties of the antimicrobial agents, regimens can be developed that are simple to manage. Newer approaches to simplifying dosing regimens include once-daily aminoglycoside therapy, continuous infusion beta-lactams, and utilizing agents with long half-lives such as ceftriaxone and azithromycin. These efforts could result in improved compliance and in some instances decrease costs and toxicities associated with antibiotic therapy.