Frontiers in Microbiology (Dec 2024)
Determination of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic cutoff values of oxytetracycline in calves and adult cattle using population pharmacokinetic modeling
Abstract
IntroductionA harmonized clinical breakpoint for interpreting antimicrobial susceptibility testing of oxytetracycline in cattle is currently lacking in Europe. This study aimed to establish a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) cutoff to propose clinical breakpoints, facilitating reliable interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibility results in cattle.MethodsA meta-analysis of oxytetracycline pharmacokinetic data from 69 cattle was conducted, including 1,730 plasma concentration samples from animals administered 20 mg/kg intramuscularly and/or 20 or 40 mg/kg intravenously. A three-compartment model with two absorption phases was selected, incorporating age as a covariate for clearances and distribution volumes. The PK/PD cutoff was defined as the maximum MIC for which the fAUC/MIC index achieves the pharmacodynamic target in 90% of cattle given the standard dosing regimen. The pharmacodynamic index (PDI) target selected was established to 24 h, i.e., the average free plasma concentration of oxytetracycline over the 24-h dosing interval, under steady-state conditions, is equal to the selected MIC.ResultsSimulations indicated a PK/PD cutoff of 2 mg/L in adult cattle and 1 mg/L in calves for intramuscularly administered long-acting products at 20 mg/kg with a 48-hour efficacy duration. The difference is attributed to higher clearance rates in calves.DiscussionThe established PK/PD cutoffs, when used alongside the wild-type bacterial epidemiological cutoff, can aid in setting clinical breakpoints for oxytetracycline, supporting effective antimicrobial therapy in cattle and accounting for age-related pharmacokinetic differences.
Keywords