Mechanisms of bacterial resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in clinical pediatrics. Many of the agents traditionally used to treat pediatric pathogens are becoming less effective because of increasing bacterial resistance. In addition, many more children are immunocompromised because of primary or acquired immunodeficiencies and because of advances in cancer chemotherapy and transplantation. These children are being admitted to hospitals where they may be exposed to multiply resistant nosocomial pathogens. An improved understanding of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and the development of treatment strategies to prevent the emergence of resistance will be increasingly required in pediatrics.