specific treatments

Last reviewed 01/2018

The appropriate antibiotic, particularly in blind therapy is best recommended by the BNF or local microbiologists.

In blind therapy bacterial pneumonia is more likely to be pneumococcus, which is treated with oral amoxicillin.

A history of dry cough suggests atypicals such as legionella, mycoplasma etc, in which case erythromycin should be added in.

Abcess formation on radiology indicates a need for flucloxacillin, gentamicin or cephalosporin.