title: Overview of national treatment guidelines for common respiratory tract infections.
abstract: CAP, ABECB, and AOM are common community-acquired infections accounting for many office visits and many prescriptions for antibacterial agents. In addition, bacterial resistance to common antibacterial agents is on the rise and is related to antibacterial usage rates. Therefore, careful consideration is required before prescribing an antibacterial agent for a patient suspected of having one of these infections. Whenever possible, preventive strategies, including immunization, smoking cessation, and the correction of underlying anatomic defects, should be considered. Before prescribing an antibiotic, the provider should determine that the criteria for antibacterial usage are met in the patient. If an antibiotic must be used, then one should be selected that has a chance of curing the patient and preserving the sensitivity pattern of the community.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ferro
mesh_terms: D001991:Bronchitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*