Pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial agents in organ function impairment. A review.

The pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial drugs in various types of organ function impairment are reviewed. The influence of renal function impairment on antimicrobial agents is well-known, although less is known about the accumulation of metabolites during renal failure. Fewer data are available on liver function impairment and more information is needed on highly metabolized agents. Pharmacokinetic studies in severely ill patients are urgently needed to investigate the influence of disease states on pharmacokinetics and to study the possibility of oral administration to seriously ill patients.