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A Novel Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Is Developed That Is Intravenously Administered

question 30

Multiple Choice

A novel aminoglycoside antibiotic is developed that is intravenously administered and excreted unchanged in urine with an elimination half-life of 4 hours. Two different dosing regimens are tested in a clinical trial: smaller doses given 3 times a day and a higher dose given once a day. The total administered drug amount per kilogram of body weight per day (mg/kg/day) is the same in both regimens. Serum drug concentration is monitored in both groups and is shown in the graph below:[Blue: once-daily (extended interval) dosing, Green: multiple-daily dosing, MIC: minimum inhibitory concentration] It is found that both regimens are effective against gram-negative pathogens, with clinical improvement occurring slightly earlier on average with once-daily dosing. Which of the following best explains the efficacy of once-daily dosing despite the short half-life of this antibiotic?

Definitions:

Psychological Explanations

Theories or accounts that explain behavior, emotions, or attitudes based on psychological principles.

Family Stress Model

A framework that explores how family stress and economic disadvantage impact parental functioning and child outcomes.

Empathy

The capacity to understand and share the feelings of another, essentially placing oneself in another's position.

David Rosenhan

A psychologist known for his study "On Being Sane in Insane Places," which challenged the validity of psychiatric diagnoses.