An older person with pneumonia develops acute renal failure. Which pharmacologic issue is most likely responsible for this new problem?

An older person with pneumonia develops acute renal failure. Which pharmacologic issue is most likely responsible for this new problem?

• A. Undiagnosed allergy to prescribed medications
• B. Inappropriate use of an antibiotic
• C. Change in renal clearance of antibiotics
• D. Exposure of a renal problem which potentiated pneumonia

Answer: (C)

In older adults, kidney function often declines, which changes how drugs are cleared from the body. Many antibiotics rely on renal clearance, so a reduced glomerular filtration rate leads to higher drug levels in the blood. This accumulation can cause nephrotoxicity and manifest as acute renal failure. So the key pharmacologic issue is a change in renal clearance of antibiotics due to aging and impaired kidney function, which can precipitate kidney injury if doses aren’t adjusted or carefully monitored. The other options don’t explain a mechanism that directly links drug handling by the kidneys to new renal failure in this scenario.

In older adults, kidney function often declines, which changes how drugs are cleared from the body. Many antibiotics rely on renal clearance, so a reduced glomerular filtration rate leads to higher drug levels in the blood. This accumulation can cause nephrotoxicity and manifest as acute renal failure. So the key pharmacologic issue is a change in renal clearance of antibiotics due to aging and impaired kidney function, which can precipitate kidney injury if doses aren’t adjusted or carefully monitored. The other options don’t explain a mechanism that directly links drug handling by the kidneys to new renal failure in this scenario.