Which class of antibiotics is adjusted based on patient-specific considerations and is known for nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity?

Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics that require careful dosing and monitoring, particularly because they can cause nephrotoxicity (kidney damage) and ototoxicity (hearing loss). The adjustment of aminoglycosides is crucial, especially in patients with compromised renal function, as their elimination from the body can be significantly affected. This necessitates close attention to the patient's kidney function, often assessed by measuring serum creatinine and calculating creatinine clearance.

The need for individualized dosing is further heightened by the drug's narrow therapeutic range, meaning that the difference between an effective dose and a harmful dose is quite small. Therefore, healthcare providers must regularly monitor drug levels in the patient's bloodstream to avoid potential toxicity while ensuring therapeutic effectiveness.

In contrast, antifungals, tetracyclines, and macrolides do not share the same level of association with nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, and their dosing adjustments are typically less intricate concerning renal function. Thus, while patient-specific considerations exist for all medications, they are particularly critical for aminoglycosides due to the identified risks and the need for precise management.