

By Reah Nicholson Moore | Published Thu, October 11, 2018

silhouette of a man and a woman surrounded by pills







“Clearly, not all people are ‘normal weight, normal height males,’ just as not all jars are quart size and not all M&M’s are plain,” said Manning.

Manning found that individuals with higher BMI have a lower free concentration of the drug in the blood. The free concentration is the portion of the drug that is available to fight the infection. She also found that all females, regardless of BMI, store larger amounts of the drug in fat than males.

In addition, she found that given the normal dose of the antibiotic, males have a greater potential for the drug to be less effective because of lower levels of free concentration in the blood, but they are less likely to develop resistant bacteria because of having higher minimum free concentrations in the blood.

In comparison, females have a greater probability of undesired side effects because of substantially higher peak concentrations of ertapenem in the blood as well as higher amounts in the fat.

“Individuals with higher BMI have a greater minimum free concentration of the drug in the blood and have less chance of developing resistant bacteria,” said Manning. “For individuals with a lower BMI, the drug has a shorter half-life and a lower minimum free concentration; thus, these individuals have a higher probability of undesired side effects and potential for development of resistant bacteria.”

Using the results of the mathematical model, Manning’s goal is to develop different dosing regimens in terms of amounts and number of times per day for individuals of different sex, weight, and height.

“Our ultimate goal is to use mathematical modeling to determine the optimal antibiotic dosing to effectively treat infections and thus improve individuals’ health and well-being.”

About Cammey Cole Manning



The Faculty Distinguished Lecture was designed to represent a significant achievement of research by a faculty member. The first lecture was presented in 1964 by Professor of English Norma Rose.

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