Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobial Agents in Aquatic Systems
Summary
Pharmacokinetics in aquatic systems examines how antimicrobial agents behave once introduced into water or administered to aquatic organisms. Key processes include absorption (via gills, skin or gut), distribution through circulatory systems, metabolism into active or inactive forms, and elimination into water or tissues. These parameters are influenced by species physiology, administration route, water temperature and chemistry. Understanding concentration–time profiles and residue depletion supports effective dosing, minimises environmental contamination and mitigates antimicrobial resistance. Practical applications range from optimising therapeutic regimens in fish farming to establishing withdrawal times that ensure consumer safety and ecological protection.
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Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobial Agents in Aquatic Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial agents in aquatic systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pharmacokinetics: Study of drug movement through absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination.
Cmax: Maximum concentration of a drug in blood or tissue.
AUC (Area Under the Curve): Integral of concentration over time, indicating overall drug exposure.
t₁/₂ (Half-life): Time taken for drug concentration to fall to half its peak value.
MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration): Lowest concentration preventing visible growth of a target microorganism.
Clearance: Volume of fluid from which a drug is completely removed per unit time.
Withdrawal time: Period after treatment during which drug residues in food products fall below regulatory limits.
References
- Influence of Intramuscular Injection Sites on Pharmacokinetics of Amoxicillin in Olive Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and Its Implication for Antibacterial Efficacy. Pharmaceutics (2023).
- Pharmacokinetics, optimal dosages and withdrawal time of amoxicillin in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) reared at 25 and 30 °C. Veterinary Quarterly (2024).
- Pharmacokinetics and biosafety evaluation of a veterinary drug florfenicol in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum 1792) as a model cultivable fish species in temperate water. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023).
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