How Is Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treated?
How Is Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treated?
Severity | Possible Drugs | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Mild pneumonia in otherwise healthy people with no risk factors* | Amoxicillin Azithromycin Clarithromycin Doxycycline | Drugs are taken by mouth. People are treated at home. |
Mild pneumonia in people with risk factors* | Amoxicillin Amoxicillin/clavulanate Azithromycin Cefpodoxime Cefuroxime Clarithromycin Doxycycline Levofloxacin Moxifloxacin | Drugs are usually taken by mouth. Often, more than one drug is taken. People are treated at home. |
Moderate pneumonia or Pneumonia in people who cannot care for themselves | Azithromycin Cefotaxime Ceftriaxone Levofloxacin Moxifloxacin | Drugs are usually given intravenously in a hospital. Often, more than one drug is given. |
Severe pneumonia in people with many risk factors* | Some of the same drugs used for moderate pneumonia Aztreonam Cefepime Ciprofloxacin Imipenem plus cilastatin Meropenem Piperacillin/tazobactam | Drugs are usually given intravenously in an intensive care unit. Usually, more than one drug is given. |
* Risk factors include heart or lung disorders, cancer, alcoholism, age older than 65, recent use of antibiotics, and a weakened immune system (for example, because of AIDS, organ transplantation, or use of drugs that suppress the immune system). | ||