Antibacterial agents in pediatrics.

Antibiotics are among the most widely prescribed therapeutic agents in children. Several new trends in antibiotic usage for pediatric care have emerged. New mechanisms of antibacterial resistance have required a broader repertoire of antibiotic usage, including new agents directed at multidrug resistance. After promotion of judicious antibiotic use, there has been a decline in the number of pediatric prescriptions for antibiotics. Recent legislation addresses the necessity for pediatric clinical drug trials, ensuring development of further antibacterial agents for use in pediatric patients.