Polymyxins: pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical applications

Abstract

Although the polymyxins seem attractive because of their unique structure and mechanism of action, relatively little is known about this group of antibiotics. Much of the available information is from a different era of medical practice when the manipulation of dosing strategies, or optimization of pharmacodynamic parameters, was not commonplace. Moreover, the more recent information that is available is limited in scope with regards to patient populations and microorganisms.