What’s the best duration of treatment for community-acquired pneumonia?

Current guidelines suggest five to 14 days, but a study by San Francisco Veterans Affairs researchers suggests that adults with mild-to-moderate pneumonia can be treated safely and effectively in seven days or less.

The researchers examined 15 randomized, controlled trials involving almost 2,800 inpatients and outpatients. Four of the antibiotic classes most commonly used for community-acquired pneumonia (macrolides, fluoroquinolones, beta-lactams, and ketolides) were represented; most of the studies examined short-course macrolide antibiotics.

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Antibiotic resistance is making it more difficult to treat common urinary tract infections (UTIs). Resistance to betalactam antibiotics prompted a switch to trimethoprim drug/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/ SMX, Bactrim); however, this agent was also susceptible to resistance, and fluoroquinolones became the new first-line choice.

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