Parameters important in short antibiotic courses

The aim of antibiotic therapy is pathogen eradication, which is often assum ed on the basis of the alleviation of the signs and symptoms of the disease . Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodymamic in vitro and animal models have now been developed to predict bacteriological efficacy and to establish dosing regim ens that are effective and control the development of resistance. These mod els may be applied to the evaluation of new short-course dosing regimens, l asting no longer than 3 - 5 days. Single-dose therapy, using agents with a prolonged duration of action, is currently employed for streptococcal phary ngitis, uncomplicated gonorrhoea and uncomplicated lower urinary tract infe ctions in women. The use of short-course therapy in immunocompetent patient s for the treatment of community-acquired infections that have a low bacter ial load is feasible. Such regimens may have a number of advantages over th ose currently employed, which typically involve dosing for 7 - 10 days. The se advantages include improved tolerability: reduction in healthcare costs, enhanced patient compliance and the prevention of the emergence of resista nce.