How Is Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treated?
Severity | Possible Medications | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Mild pneumonia in otherwise healthy people with no risk factors* | AmoxicillinAmoxicillin AzithromycinAzithromycin ClarithromycinClarithromycin DoxycyclineDoxycycline | Medications are taken by mouth. People are treated at home. |
Mild pneumonia in people with risk factors* | AmoxicillinAmoxicillin Amoxicillin/clavulanateAmoxicillin/clavulanate AzithromycinAzithromycin CefpodoximeCefpodoxime CefuroximeCefuroxime ClarithromycinClarithromycin DoxycyclineDoxycycline LevofloxacinLevofloxacin MoxifloxacinMoxifloxacin | Medications are usually taken by mouth. Often, more than one medication is taken. People are treated at home. |
Moderate pneumonia or Pneumonia in people who cannot care for themselves | AzithromycinAzithromycin CefotaximeCefotaxime CeftriaxoneCeftriaxone LevofloxacinLevofloxacin MoxifloxacinMoxifloxacin | Medications are usually given intravenously in a hospital. Often, more than one medication is given. |
Severe pneumonia in people with many risk factors* | Some of the same medications used for moderate pneumonia AztreonamAztreonam CefepimeCefepime CiprofloxacinCiprofloxacin Imipenem/cilastatinImipenem/cilastatin MeropenemMeropenem Piperacillin/tazobactam | Medications are usually given intravenously in an intensive care unit. Usually, more than one medication is given. |
* Risk factors include heart or lung disorders, cancer, alcohol use disorder, age older than 65 years, recent use of antibiotics, and a weakened immune system (for example, because of HIV, organ transplantation, or use of medications that suppress the immune system). | ||