Quinolones in Pediatrics

Quinolones form part of a family of bactericidal wide spectrum antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics made possible to treat oral infections, in which only be alternative of treatment with parenteral antibiotics. They are the most widely prescribed antimicrobials in the community and this excessive use has led to an increase in bacterial resistance. In children, the use of quinolones is much more restricted because of the fear of its association with arthropathy, seen in trials with young animals. Our purpose is to provide an overview of quinolones, show its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, the bacterial spectrum that presents, the possible uses in Pediatrics (authorized and collected in the technical data sheet, and the possible off-label uses recommended in clinical guidelines and consensuses), and the side effects in children. In addition, we pretend to alert of the abuse of these antibiotics and recommend their rational use, both in adult and children, for patients with moderate-severe pathology, in which there is no other valid alternative.