Clinical use of antimicrobials / Uso clínico de antimicrobianos

RESUMO

Antimicrobial drugs have been employed since the last century in the treatment of various infectious conditions. They can be divided into two main classes antibiotics and chemotherapeutic drugs. Although the use of antimicrobials in the treatment of infectious diseases may be considered one of the most important advances in modern medicine, use of these drugs should be preceded by careful assessment of the patient on an individual basis. This paper approaches the use of antimicrobials in clinical medicine, reviewing the fundamentals of treatment that should be included in any assessment for choice of therapy, including the patient, the pathogen and the drug.