Background: A versatile ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method with diode array detection was developed to quantify a wide range of antibiotics in human serum. This method addresses the need for rapid and accurate determination of antibiotic levels to ensure effective patient treatment and support the fight against antibiotic resistance.
Methods: This method assesses 31 different compounds covering β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, antifungals, antituberculars, and more. Proteins were precipitated using methanol or acetonitrile, and drugs were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane. Separation of the antimicrobials was achieved on a pentafluorophenyl column, using a mobile phase of phosphoric acid (0.01 mol/L) and acetonitrile in a gradient elution mode, with a flow rate of 500 μL/min.
Results: Almost all compounds were detected at 200 nm. The total analysis time for this method was kept under 18 minutes, including equilibration time.
Conclusions: This efficient method enables fast determination of numerous antimicrobial classes, providing clinicians with an essential tool for ensuring effective patient treatment and combating antimicrobial resistance.
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