From: Continuous beta-lactam infusion in critically ill patients: the clinical evidence
Administration method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Continuous infusion | More predictable antibiotic PK profiles | Relatively new antibiotic administration method thus requiring intensive educational effort to update clinical staff on the administration method prior to implementation |
 | Lower antibiotic daily dose may be appropriate with continuous infusion | Requires special infusion pumps and infusion bags that are costly |
 | Reduced drug acquisition costs when lower antibiotic doses are used | Some beta-lactams (e.g., meropenem) are not stable under prolonged exposure at room temperature and may produce and enhance degradation products that cause hypersensitivity reactions |
 | Effective resource consumption (e.g., reduce the time required for pharmacists or nurses to prepare and administer antibiotic) | Risk of drug wastage is high with this approach (e.g., when treatment ceased before infusion bag completed) |
Intermittent bolus | Simple | PK/PD targets may not be achieved (especially in critically ill patients) |
 | Does not require dedicated line access for drug administration (incompatibility issues unlikely) | Neurological adverse effects are theoretically more possible with high Cmax |
 | Less likely to have unexpected device failures and dosing delivery rate errors |  |