Real-Time Monitoring of Antibiotics in the Critically Ill Using Biosensors

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is crucial for optimizing antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity.
• Current TDM methods face challenges including being time-consuming and slow, which limits their widespread application.
• Biosensors present a promising alternative for rapid and accurate drug concentration measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of biosensors for TDM of antibiotics in critically ill patients.
• To discuss both ex vivo point-of-care and in vivo continuous monitoring biosensor technologies.
• To address the clinical development, regulatory hurdles, and standardization needs for biosensor implementation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing biosensor technologies for TDM.
• Analysis of ex vivo and in vivo biosensor designs for antibiotic monitoring.
• Discussion of clinical translation challenges and performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• Biosensors enable rapid, single-step quantification of drug concentrations.
• Both ex vivo and in vivo biosensor platforms are being developed for TDM.
• Standardization and regulatory approval are key factors for clinical adoption.

Conclusions:

• Biosensors hold significant promise for precise, real-time antibiotic monitoring in critically ill patients.
• This technology can enhance TDM, leading to optimized drug exposure and improved patient outcomes.
• Further development and standardization are necessary for widespread clinical integration.