ABSTRACT
I. Introduction 462
A. General Concepts About Antimicrobial Agents 462
II. Antimicrobial Agents Most Often Used Against Upper Airway
Infections in Children 465
A. Penicillins and b-Lactams 465 Preparations and Characteristics of Penicillin G 465
Action Spectrum of Penicillins 466
B. Aminopenicillins 467
C. Potentiated Penicillins 468
D. Broad-Spectrum Penicillins (Anti-Pseudomonas) 468
E. Cephalosporins 469
First-Generation Cephalosporins 470
Second-Generation Cephalosporins 470
Third-Generation Cephalosporins 470
Fourth-Generation Cephalosporins 471
F. Other b-Lactam Agents: The Carbapenems (e.g., Imipenem, Meropenem) 471
G. Sulfonamides 471
H. Macrolides 472
I. Chloramphenicol 473
J. Clindamycin 473
K. Quinolones 474
L. Rifampicin 474
M. Metronidazole 474
III. Antifungal Drugs 475
A. Amphotericin 475
B. Ketoconazole 475
IV. Antiviral Drugs 475
V. List of Antimicrobial Agents and Their Doses 476
VI. Paranasal Sinus Infections in Pediatrics 477
A. Definition and Classification of Sinusitis 477
B. Microbiology of Sinusitis 477
C. Antimicrobial Treatment of Sinusitis 478
Acute Sinusitis 478
Chronic Sinusitis 481
VII. Conclusion 482
References 482
I. Introduction
Antimicrobial agents are substances that inhibit the growth or kill microorgan-
isms. If of natural origin, they are called antibiotics, whereas if the origin is
synthetic, they are called chemotherapic agents. Bacteriostatics are agents that
inhibit bacterial growth. Bactericidal agents are those that destroy the bacteria.
In some clinical situations, a therapeutic response may be reached with the use
of any of the two types. In other situations, it is preferable to use a bactericide
agent. This is the case, for example, in meningitis and endocarditis.
