Infection & Response

• What does 'efficacy' mean?


  How well a drug produces the desired effect 
• What does the term 'toxicity' mean?

  How harmful a drug is e.g. how many side effects 
• What does the term 'dosage' mean?

  How much of the drug is required to give the desired effect
• Why is it important for medical trials to be double-blind?


  To avoid any bias by the patients and/or researchers

  If patients know they received the drug they may be more likely to report side effects

  If researchers know who has been given the real drug then they may pay closer attention to those patients