Duration of antibiotics for uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia in inpatients

For patients with CAP who have a good clinical response within the first two to three days of therapy, the duration of antibiotic treatment is generally 5 to 7 days. Longer courses may be needed for patients who are slower to improve; have CAP caused by S. aureus, Pseudomonas spp, or other less common pathogens; or when the initial antibiotic regimen was not active against a subsequently identified pathogen. Procalcitonin levels can also be used to help guide antibiotic duration. Refer to the UpToDate text for detail.