Infection is a serious indication, and adequate antibiotic levels must be achieved immediately. However, many antibiotics also have nephrotoxic or ototoxic effects; thus, their concentrations need to be monitored. Serum concentrations that are too low or too high must be avoided.
Examples of antibiotics that are monitored by TDM include:
- Amikacin
- Gentamicin
- Tobramycin
- Vancomycin
- Antifungals (voriconazole, posaconazole, fluconazole, flucytosine)
Antibiotics such as ampicillin that are readily cleared and have a wide therapeutic window are not usually monitored by TDM.
