Antibiotic Guide for Adult Community-acquired Pneumonia

Mild/moderate community-acquired pneumonia

If patient is likely to have aspirated anaerobic cover is also required click here.

• Amoxicillin PO 500mg-1g tds and Clarithromycin PO 500mg bd (both for 5-7 days)
• If penicillin allergic:
  • Levofloxacin PO 500mg od for 7 days.  As Levofloxacin can increase selection for C.difficile infection and MRSA colonisation/infection, all patients with previous MRSA/C.difficile  require microbiology approval to use Levofloxacin.
• If nil by mouth or swallowing difficulties Click here.

• Those who are admitted for non-clinical reasons and would otherwise have been treated at home should receive either Amoxicillin or, if allergic, Erythromycin.

• Clarithromycin PO 500mg bd

Notes

• If not responding to treatment or severe pneumonia please discuss further investigation and treatment with a medical microbiologist.

• Review antibiotic therapy in light of microbiology results.

The Full-Text Guideline "Antibiotic Guidelines for Adult Patients With Community Acquired Pneumonia" is available here. 

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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