Question

M.J. has a nosocomial infection that she acquired while receiving chemotherapy at the hospital. The health care provider has prescribed an intravenous antibiotic, and the patient wants to know why he needs a blood draw. M.J. also says that the provider told him that "the medicine is hard on the kidneys, so it is essential that you receive the right amount."

What type of serum blood screen would allow for the health care provider to know if the patient is getting the right amount of the medication?

Answer 1

The health care provider would use therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and kidney function tests such as serum creatinine levels to ensure that the medication's concentration is within the therapeutic range and to monitor the kidneys for potential toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The type of serum blood screen that would allow the health care provider to determine if the patient is getting the right amount of the medication is called a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) test. Since the antibiotic prescribed to M.J. is known to be hard on the kidneys, the TDM test would likely be combined with regular kidney function tests, such as testing for serum creatinine levels. These tests monitor the concentration of the drug in the patient's bloodstream to ensure it stays within the therapeutic range, which is the drug concentration that achieves the desired effect without causing toxicity. Moreover, kidney function tests would help to ascertain that the drug is not harming the patient's kidneys, which can be a concern when administering potent antibiotics intravenously.