Final answer:
The term describing how a drug is introduced into the body is called the route of administration. Oral administration is generally preferred for home treatment of systemic infections, while intravenous or other parenteral methods are typically used in health-care settings due to higher plasma level achievements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The way a drug is introduced into the body, such as oral, enteral, mucosal, parental, or percutaneous, is known as the route of administration. This method is critical in ensuring that the drug reaches the right place in the body to have its intended effect. When a chosen drug is not absorbed well in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, administration by a parenteral route, which includes intravenous or intramuscular injection, is often preferred and is typically conducted in health-care settings due to the higher plasma levels achieved, which is crucial for treating certain infections.
Which route of administration would be appropriate and convenient for home administration of an antimicrobial to treat a systemic infection? The best answer is A. oral, because oral drugs can be conveniently taken at home. On the other hand, intravenous administration, while often more effective in achieving higher plasma drug levels, usually requires a hospital setting or medical supervision.
Factors such as a drug's dosage, bioavailability, and the patient's ability to metabolize and excrete the drug also play important roles in choosing the best route of administration and ensuring the treatment is both effective and safe. Other routes like mucosal and transdermal routes have been explored for peptide-based drugs, expanding the possibilities of drug delivery methods beyond traditional forms.