The assessment of pharmacokinetic parameters of teicoplanin in burns comparing the methods of nonlinear curve fitting and quantified maximum entropy

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in patients with severe burns has been assessed using two different numerical methods: a nonlinear curve fitting procedure and quantified maximum entropy. On the whole nonlinear curve fitting and quantified maximum entropy provided different pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for the same sets of data. With respect to correctness and reliability of the values, quantified maximum entropy appears to be the better approach. However, its full success depends on the data available. The data material need to be comprehensive to assure a maximum information content to be extracted. The nonlinear curve fitting approach requires less sophisticated mathematical modelling which is possible on common hardware, and produces results faster than quantified maximum entropy. Thus, nonlinear curve fitting is the method of choice if a rapid assessment of the data is required, whereas quantified maximum entropy should be the method of choice in research and development, where the required accuracy of the estimates is more important than time.