If new recommendations from the American College of Physicians take hold, patients may soon see shorter courses of antibiotics prescribed for common bacterial infections in an effort to stem the tide of antibiotic resistance.
- For acute, uncomplicated bronchitis and COPD exacerbation, five days.
- For community-acquired pneumonia, five days with extensions based on symptoms.
- For uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women, either nitrofurantoin for five days, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for three days, or fosfomycin as a single dose.
- In men and women with uncomplicated pyelonephritis, either with fluoroquinolones for five to seven days or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for 14 days based on antibiotic susceptibility.
- For nonpurulent cellulitis five to six days of antibiotics active against streptococci for patients able to self-monitor and follow up with primary care.
Leave a Reply