Staphylococcal infections in the era of MRSA.

1. Describe how the approach to the patient who has a staphylococcal infection varies by age, immune status, and clinical presentation. 2. Recognize that the management of staphylococcal infection in the pediatric patient relies on prompt diagnosis and localization of focus. 3. Utilize susceptibility data to plan antimicrobial therapy for staphylococcal infection. 4. Delineate the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data that guide therapy for specific infections. 5. Understand that vancomycin continues to be the cornerstone of therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in children.