Antibiotic Guide for Pneumonia

Not all "aspirations" lead to infections/require antibiotics:

Aspiration Pneumonitis

Routine antibiotic treatment not indicated - apart from patients with small bowel obstruction who will aspirate colonised gastric contents.

Treatment - supportive. Pulmonary toilet and early ventilation. Steroids not indicated in the immediate phase.

If persistence of chest signs, or fever after 48 hours treat as Aspiration Pneumonia

• Community acquired aspiration pneumonia

Page last edited: 25/07/2008

Caution; the antibiotic doses recommended on this website are intended for adult patients with normal renal and liver function unless otherwise stated. Dosing advice for patients with renal impairment is available here.

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