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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
07:15
Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation
Published on: January 16, 2019
[Mutant Prevention Concentration: is it significant in the clinical practice?]
1Istituto di Farmacologia Clinica e Tossicologia, Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicaina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Udine, Italy.
Le Infezioni in Medicina
|December 5, 2008
Summary
Understanding antibiotic concentrations is key for effective treatment. The Mutant Selection Window (MSW) highlights concentrations that risk promoting bacterial resistance, while concentrations above the Mutant Prevention Concentration (MPC) are ideal for eradicating susceptible and resistant strains.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Fluoroquinolone efficacy depends on achieving optimal drug concentrations.
- Antibiotic exposure can lead to both bacterial population reduction and resistance selection.
- Microbiological concepts like Mutant Prevention Concentration (MPC) and Mutant Selection Window (MSW) are crucial.
Purpose:
- To explain the significance of antibiotic concentrations in relation to bacterial susceptibility and resistance.
- To define the Mutant Selection Window (MSW) and its role in the selection of resistant bacterial strains.
- To highlight the importance of achieving drug concentrations above the Mutant Prevention Concentration (MPC) for effective treatment.
Summary:
- Fluoroquinolone therapeutic success is concentration-dependent.
- The Mutant Selection Window (MSW) represents a range of antibiotic concentrations where resistance can be selected.
- Concentrations above the Mutant Prevention Concentration (MPC) are necessary to inhibit both susceptible and resistant bacterial strains.
Impact:
- Clinical outcomes are directly influenced by the antibiotic concentrations achieved at the infection site.
- Understanding MSW and MPC can guide antibiotic dosing strategies to maximize efficacy and minimize resistance.
- Factors such as drug mutagenicity, patient physiology, and prescribing habits affect resistance risk.
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