Abstract

Obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m2, is a growing problem worldwide; the prevalence is 38%
in the US adult population. 1 Obesity is a risk factor for infection and is associated with antimicrobial treatment failure2 and worse clinical outcomes.3 Communityacquired pneumonia and skin and soft-tissue infections are the most common indications for prescribing outpatient antibiotics for obese patients.4 Obesity can affect the ability of antimicrobial agents to attain therapeutic levels.5,6 Changes in clearance and volume of distribution that may occur in obese patients can alter the dose– exposure relationship with some drugs, resulting in the need to adjust the dose in this patient population.7 With the emergence of antibiotic resistance, dosing decisions become increasingly important.

By Shawn Flanagan, Sonia L. Minassian, Julie A. Passarell, Jill Fiedler-Kelly, and Philippe Prokocimer