title: [Sense and nonsense in antibiotic therapy for respiratory tract infections].
abstract: Whether an antibiotic successfully eradicates pathogens depends on the pathogens involved, on pharmacokinetics and bioavailability in the target tissue, and on the antimicrobial resistance of the pathogen. Other determinants are drug interactions, individual risk factors, age and compliance with respect to correct dosage and duration of therapy. In many cases, antimicrobial therapy is begun on an empirical basis, because the responsible pathogen can be identified in only half of all respiratory infections. The eradication of the pathogen has to be the first aim if treatment is to be curative and the development of resistance prevented. Long-term prevention of antimicrobial resistance will require a more critical prospective evaluation of the prescription of antibiotics. This paper considers rational and irrational measures in the antimicrobial therapy of respiratory infections.
authors.affiliation: Klinische Abteilung für Pulmonologie, Medizinische Universitätsklinik Graz, Osterreich. wolfgang.domej@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Domej
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Flögel
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tilz
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Demel
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004351:Drug Resistance; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents