Community-Acquired Pneumonia - Duration of Antibiotic Therapy for Child

Patient selection: young pediatric patient with CAP

Duration of antibiotic therapy range from 3 to 4 days to 4 to 6 weeks, with 7 to 10 days often used for a routine infection.

Reasons to consider a longer course of antibiotic:

(1) problematic pathogen (MRSA, other)

(2) lung abscess

(3) empyema

(4) bacteremia, especially with secondary site

(5) severe and complicated illness

(6) impaired host defenses

Reasons to consider a shorter course of antibiotics:

(1) mild disease treated as outpatient

(2) susceptible organism

(3) clinically improved