The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) just released consensus guidance regarding beta-lactam antibiotic dose individualization in acutely ill patients. The guidance document is endorsed by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP). 

The consensus guidance features four recommendations on the clinical impact of beta-lactam dose individualization, preferred PK/PD targets for improving outcomes, the impact of beta-lactam dose individualization on patient-centered safety outcomes, and what the preferred PK targets are for beta-lactam dose individualization to improve safety.

Overall, within Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Dose Individualization in Acutely Ill Patients, the ACCP outlines best practice statements and recommendations for thirteen key questions. We have outlined the recommendations from the consensus guidance below. View the full-text version to view the accompanying rationale for each recommendation and along with the included good practice statements, and for the most thorough look at the following clinical guidance.

Key Guidance from the ACCP Consensus Guidance on Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Dose Individualization in Acutely Ill Patients
  • The panel suggests the use of beta-lactam antibiotic dose individualization to improve patient-centered treatment outcomes.
  • The panel suggests beta-lactam dose individualization programs pursue a minimum PK/PD target of 100% fT>MIC to improve the likelihood of clinical cure (level: very low, strength: conditional). The panel cannot recommend for or against specific targets for mortality, microbiologic cure, or length of stay.
  • The panel cannot make a recommendation on the role for beta-lactam dose individualization to improve safety outcomes.
  • The panel cannot make a recommendation on a specific PK target for beta-lactam dose individualization to improve safety.

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