| Preferred options | Alternative options* |
Mild pneumonia¶ | - Azithromycin 500 mg orally once dailyΔ
- OR
- Levofloxacin 750 mg orally once dailyΔ◊
| - Ciprofloxacin 500 mg orally twice daily◊
- OR
- Moxifloxacin 400 mg orally once daily
- OR
- Clarithromycin 500 mg orally twice daily◊
- OR
- Erythromycin (base) 500 mg orally four times daily
- OR
- Roxithromycin 300 mg orally daily or 150 mg orally twice daily§
|
Moderate or severe pneumonia¶¥ | - Azithromycin 500 mg IV or orally once daily
- OR
- Levofloxacin 750 mg IV or orally once daily◊
| - Ciprofloxacin 400 mg IV twice daily◊ or 750 mg orally twice daily
- OR
- Moxifloxacin 400 mg IV or orally once daily
- OR
- Clarithromycin 500 mg IV or orally twice daily◊‡
- OR
- Erythromycin (base) 1000 mg IV four times daily or 500 mg orally four times daily
|
Duration of therapy: |
The minimum duration of therapy is 5 days for patients who have been afebrile and clinically stable for 48 hours. Patients with mild infection generally require 5 to 7 days of therapy. Patients with severe infection or chronic comorbidities generally require 7 to 10 days of therapy. Extended courses may be needed for immunocompromised patients or those with complications (eg, empyema or extrapulmonary infection). |