Twenty infants and children receiving intravenous chloramphenicol were studied to examine the pharmacokinetics of the parent compound and its precursor, the succinate ester (CAP-S). Plasma samples were obtained just prior to a 30-minute infusion of chloramphenicol succinate, immediately after or 30 minutes after infusion, and 90, 210, and 330 minutes after infusion. Complete 6-hour urine collections were obtained during 11 studies. Plasma and urine were assayed for chloramphenicol and its succinate ester by high-performance liquid chromatography. Peak plasma concentrations ranged from 11.0 to 51.1 micrograms/ml on doses of 50 to 100 mg/kg/day and were higher in the youngest age group. The elimination half-life of chloramphenicol averaged 4.0 hours. Multilinear regression analysis demonstrated an excellent relationship between body surface area, trough plasma chloramphenicol concentration, and total body chloramphenicol clearance. The hydrolysis of succinate ester to free chloramphenicol may delay the peak free concentration, and its renal elimination (average 21 per cent of the dose administered) significantly affects chloramphenicol pharmacokinetics. The clearance of chloramphenicol exhibited enzyme saturation kinetics in one patient studied at two different doses. Dosage adjustments of intravenous chloramphenicol in children must be made in relation to the trough chloramphenicol plasma concentration, renal elimination of CAP-S, and possible saturation of chloramphenicol metabolism.