Antibacterial agents in pediatrics

The utility of various antibacterial agents for therapy of infectious diseases in children is determined by the unique pharmacokinetics and potential toxicity in children. The important age-related principle of pharmacokinetics is reviewed in the first section of this article; the second section focuses on specific therapeutic agents and their use in children. Particular emphasis is given to the use of new antibiotics in children, including the new oral cephalosporins and macrolides.