A Methodological Review on the Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Integration of Antibacterial Drugs

Inappropriate application of antimicrobial agents can result in resistance by bacteria to drugs and changes in bacterial ecology. In particular, the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria seriously affects the antibacterial efficacy of drugs, which threatens the health and lives of humans and animals. Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) models can be used to analyze the relationship between PK and PD data and the antibacterial effect. PK/PD models provide valuable guidance for optimization of dosage regimens, development of new drugs, setting of susceptibility breakpoints, and analyses of resistant mutants. The main models of PK/PD integration are in vitro PK/PD, ex vivo PK/PD, and in vivo PK/PD. Each of these models has its own advantages and disadvantages. Hence, knowing how to choose the appropriate PK/PD model has a huge influence on obtaining accurate PK/PD data. In this review, we describe the commonly used PK/PD methods. In this way, we provide a reference for optimizing drug regimens and preventing and controlling drug-resistant bacterial infections.