Risk-benefit experience of ciprofloxacin use in pediatric patients in the United Kingdom

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Abstract
Selection of the most appropriate therapeutic regimen in the management of an infectious disease in a small child or infant is often difficult. Many antimicrobial agents have side effects, thus stressing the importance of risk vs. benefit assessment in the younger patient population. Frequent use of an antimicrobial agent provides the practitioner with critical data regarding the relative rate and intensity of specific adverse events. In addition the benefits of therapy in terms of rapidity of cure, return to normal life and economic outcomes may also be appreciated. Oral ciprofloxacin, although not currently indicated for use in children, has been available to practitioners for > 10 years. Compassionate use experience with ciprofloxacin for the treatment of acute, serious infections (i.e. Pseudomonas species) in pediatrics is described. To date ciprofloxacin has been a very useful agent for the management of serious infections in children and has been associated with little risk of permanent joint damage. These data support the use of ciprofloxacin in children in selected situations where the efficacy outweighs any considerable risk, thereby minimizing misuse and overuse of this antimicrobial agent.