Antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia.
Antibiotic guidelines for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) often recommend broad-spectrum agents for severe pneumonia. While these may be entirely appropriate in terms of their spectrum of activity and efficacy, there is a risk that such recommendations could result in over-prescribing of broad-spectrum agents with consequent 'collateral damage', meaning superinfection by resistant pathogens, or selection of antibiotic resistance. Narrow-spectrum agents are often as effective and result in less collateral damage. National and local antibiotic guidance should promote choices of agents for narrow-spectrum prescribing even for severe CAP where appropriate.
Dryden
Matthew
M
Department of Microbiology and Communicable Disease, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, UK. matthew.dryden@wehct.nhs.uk
Hand
Kieran
K
Davey
Peter
P
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents