Final answer:
Key properties to consider in the use of antimicrobials for treatment include action and activity, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. These factors help in choosing the right drug for a specific infection, determining dosage and frequency, understanding potential drug interactions, and assessing possible adverse effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the use of antimicrobials, several properties need to be taken into account for the appropriate usage:
- Action and activity - This relates to how the drug kills or inhibits the growth of the microbe, such as whether it's bactericidal or bacteriostatic. Choosing the right drug for a specific infection (5) should be based on this understanding.
- Distribution - Involves how the drug is distributed within the body, crucial for determining the dosage and frequency of administration (6).
- Metabolism - How the drug is metabolized by the body affects the drug's efficacy and potential interactions, which is important in understanding drug interactions (7).
- Excretion - The process of how a drug is eliminated from the body, which has implications for assessing potential for adverse effects (8).
Factors like spectrum of activity, dosage, route of administration, and potential side effects are imperative considerations for selecting an appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Furthermore, understanding synergistic and antagonistic drug interactions is key to effective treatment plans. The development of anti-parasitic drugs also needs careful consideration regarding pharmacokinetics and bioavailability.