Studying Beta-Lactam Antibiotic Levels and Patient Factors in Adults with Infective Endocarditis

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying infectious endocarditis IE, a serious heart infection with a 10-12% mortality rate, to better understand how beta-lactam antibiotics behave in the body. These antibiotics, including ampicillin, penicillin G, cefotaxime, and cloxacillin, are given in high doses, but patient factors like age, weight, and kidney function affect how the drugs are processed, which may impact treatment success or side effects. The study collects detailed data from 150 patients treated with these antibiotics at four university hospitals in Sweden. Blood samples are taken frequently during the treatment period, including six samples within one dosing interval and additional samples weekly for up to six weeks. Patient information such as age, weight, gender, and routine biomarker results are also recorded. The goal is to develop a mathematical model predicting optimal dosing for individual patients. Participants provide informed consent and undergo regular blood sampling and monitoring of clinical outcomes, including treatment success and side effects. The study tracks various measures of drug levels in the blood and correlates them with patient characteristics and outcomes. Data is anonymized, securely stored, and analyzed to understand drug behavior and its relation to treatment effects and safety over the course of therapy and follow-up.

Betalactam Pharmacokinetics in Endocarditis Patients