The Nephrotoxicity of Antimicrobial Agents

Abstract

Selection of an antibiotic to use in the treatment of an infection should be based on benefittoxicity ratios, particularly in critically ill patients with marginal renal function and potentially lethal infections. Many factors intrinsic to the kidney are important in the development of antibiotic-induced renal damage. The kidneys make up only 0.4 per cent of body weight but receive approximately 25 per cent of the cardiac output at rest each minute.1 Nephrons are exposed to high concentrations of antibiotics by glomerular filtration, as well as through tubular secretion and reabsorption. Since the kidney is a major excretory pathway for many . . .