10/26/23, 5:05 PM Antibiotics for Pneumonia: Types, How Long You’ll Take Them

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EAR, NOSE & THROAT ENT DISORDERS PNEUMONIA

Which Antibiotics Treat Pneumonia

and What to Expect
Here's what your doctor might prescribe you
By Jennifer Welsh Updated on April 14, 2022
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Medically reviewed by Chris Vincent, MD

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Types of Antibiotics

How Your Doctor Chooses

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How Long You’ll Take Them

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Side Effects
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Tableyou’ll
If you’ve been diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia, of Contents
likely be
prescribed antibiotics to treat it. Antibiotics kill bacteria or render them
unable to replicate.

Your doctor may prescribe one of many antibiotics for pneumonia.

Review what pneumonia is, what treatment for pneumonia may entail, Advertisement

and why your doctor may pick one pneumonia medication over the
other. Advertisement

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Verywell / Michela Buttignol

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Pneumonia is a lower respiratory infection. These are infections of the

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lungs or lung structures, likeA-Z
the Prevention & Treatmentmay
bronchi. Pneumonia Health
makeCare
it News About Us

harder to breathe because the air sacs in the lungs that exchange
oxygen with carbon dioxide fill up with fluid. Table of Contents

Viruses or bacteria can cause different types of pneumonia. Less

commonly, a fungus can be the culprit. [1]

Viral pneumonia, caused by the viruses that also cause the common
cold or flu, typically goes away on its own with enough time and rest.
This type of pneumonia tends to be more seasonal in the fall and
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winter when cold and flu viruses spread.

Recovering from viral pneumonia could take up to three weeks. You can
treat pneumonia's fever and pains with over-the-counter medicines.
Antibiotics won't help you get better quicker if a virus causes your
pneumonia. [2]

Bacterial pneumonia is more common and needs to be treated with

antibiotics to resolve fully, which may take a month or more. Bacterial
pneumonia may be caused by the same pathogen that caused the
original illness. Or it can be a secondary bacterial infection after a viral
illness. [3]

Pneumococcal Vaccination
One of the best ways to prevent bacterial pneumonia is vaccination.
There are currently four vaccines available in the United States
(PCV13, PCV15, PCV20, and PPSV23) that help protect against a
number of bacteria that cause pneumonia and other pneumococcal

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disease. Regular use of these vaccines has lowered bacterial

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pneumonia rates, even in nonvaccinated adults, due to herd
immunity. [4]
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[5]
PCV13 (Prevnar 13) is recommended for:

Children younger than 2 years old

Children ages 2 to 18 years with certain medical conditions

PCV15 (Vaxneuvance) or PCV20 (Prevnar 20) is recommended for: [5]

Adults 65 years or older

Adults ages 19 to 64 years with certain risk factors or medical
conditions

PPSV23 (Pneumovax23) is recommended for: [5]

Children ages 2 to 18 years with certain medical conditions

Adults 19 years and older who get the PCV15 vaccine or who
previously got PCV13

Types of Antibiotics for Pneumonia

There are multiple types of antibiotics that work in slightly different
ways. Some are more commonly used to treat pneumonia than others
based on things like: [6]

The bacteria causing infection

The severity of the infection
If you’re in a patient group at greatest risk from pneumonia
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The types of antibiotics that your doctor might typically prescribe for
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pneumonia include the following: [7]

Healthy adults under 65 years with pneumonia Table of Contents

are typically treated
with a combination of amoxicillin plus a macrolide like Zithromax
(azithromycin) or sometimes a tetracycline like Vibramycin
(doxycycline).
Adults with other illnesses or who are smokers will usually be
prescribed Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), a combination
drug that contains both amoxicillin and another antibiotic, the beta-
lactam clavulanic acid. Augmentin may be supplemented in these
patients with either a macrolide or tetracycline. These other conditions
make it difficult for the body to fight off infections and include chronic
heart, lung, liver, or kidney diseases, like chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, alcohol use disorder, cancer, and
patients without a spleen.
Adults who can't take penicillin may be prescribed cephalosporin like
Rocephin (ceftriaxone) plus either a macrolide or doxycycline.
Adults who can't take Augmentin because of the beta-lactam will likely
be prescribed an inhaled fluoroquinolone like Levaquin (levofloxacin).
Hospitalized adults who are not likely to have methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas are treated with either
combination therapy of a beta-lactam plus macrolide or with a
fluoroquinolone.
Hospitalized adults with Pseudomonas will be treated with a
combination of an antipseudomonal beta-lactam plus an
antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone.
Hospitalized adults with MRSA will also be prescribed an anti-MRSA
drug like Vancocin (vancomycin) or Zyvox (linezolid).

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Antibiotics prescribed for children with pneumonia include the

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following: [8]

Infants, preschoolers, and school-aged childrenTable

with of Contents
suspected
bacterial pneumonia may be treated with amoxicillin.
Children with suspected atypical pneumonia can be treated with
macrolides.
Children allergic to penicillin will be treated with other antibiotics as
needed for the specific pathogen.
Hospitalized, immunized children can be treated with ampicillin or
penicillin G.
Hospitalized children and infants who are not fully vaccinated may be
treated with a cephalosporin.
Hospitalized children with suspected M. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae
infection may be treated with combination therapy of a macrolide (such
as azithromycin or clarithromycin) and a beta-lactam antibiotic (such
as ampicillin or amoxicillin).
Hospitalized children with suspected S. aureus infections might be
treated with a combination of Vancocin or clindamycin and a beta-
lactam.

Easing Symptoms
In addition to antibiotics, lifestyle interventions and over-the-
counter treatments can also help ease symptoms. These may
include getting rest, drinking fluids, and taking fever reducers.

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How Your Doctor

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Your doctor will select the right antibiotic for you based on multiple
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factors, including: [6]

Your age: People 65 and older have a greater risk of serious

complications from pneumonia infections.
Your health history: A history of smoking, lung diseases, or other
conditions may influence a person's ability to fight off infections.
The exact infection you have: Your doctor may take a sample and test it
for bacteria. They can then pick an antibiotic based on your specific
infection.
Your previous experiences with antibiotics: Make sure to tell your
doctor if you are allergic to any medications, had bad reactions to
antibiotics in the past, or have developed an antibacterial-resistant
infection.
The antibiotic sensitivity of the bacteria: The lab will test the bacteria
causing your pneumonia to determine which antibiotics it is sensitive
or resistant to.

Doctors typically choose your antibiotics prescription based on what

medicines they think will be most effective and cause the fewest side
effects.

How Long You’ll Take Them

A course of antibiotics for uncomplicated pneumonia treatment is
usually for five to seven days. One course will usually be enough to cure

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your pneumonia. In some cases, you may need more than one course of
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antibiotics if your infection doesn’t start improving or it seems like it’s
not responding to the medications.
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Stay in touch with your doctor to ensure your infection is clearing up.
You’ll likely start to feel better and have some symptom relief one to
three days after you start your pneumonia treatment, but it may take a
week or more for your symptoms to go away completely.

Taking your medication as prescribed, especially for antibiotics, is

incredibly important. Even if you’re feeling better, you need to
take the entire course.

Do not stop taking antibiotics early, even if your symptoms

improve, as the infection would not be fully treated and could
become antibiotic-resistant. This will make treatment more
complicated. If you’re experiencing side effects, talk to your
doctor. Only stop your medication if your doctor tells you it’s OK to
do so.

Side Effects
Antibiotics are serious drugs and can have some uncomfortable side
effects. These can include: [9]

Gastrointestinal discomfort: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset

stomach, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, and stomach pain

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Skin issues: Hives, yeast infections (including oral thrush), allergic

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reactions (skin rash), angioedema (skin swelling), and sensitivity to
sunlight
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Ask your doctor about any potential severe adverse reactions to

watch out for.

Antibiotics work by killing bacteria, but our bodies are full of bacteria.
There are more bacterial cells in our bodies than human cells. The vast
majority of these bacteria, called our microbiome, are good for us; they
help us digest food and support the immune system.

But antibiotics act indiscriminately, killing any bacteria they can find,
even good ones. This indiscriminate killing causes some complications,
as harmful bacteria may take over parts of our bodies vacated by the
bacteria the antibiotic killed.

Some research suggests that taking a probiotic or eating probiotic foods

while you’re taking antibiotics can help avoid some of the immediate
and long-term effects of antibiotics on your microbiome.

Related: Common and Serious Antibiotic Side Effects in Children

Summary
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. Which antibiotic is
prescribed is based on the type of bacteria, your age, health history,
and more. You will often take the antibiotics for five to seven days.
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Completing the full course is important. Side effects may occur, which
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you should report to your doctor.

9 Sources Table of Contents

By Jennifer Welsh
Jennifer Welsh is a Connecticut-based science writer and editor with
over ten years of experience under her belt. She’s previously worked
and written for WIRED Science, The Scientist, Discover Magazine,
LiveScience, and Business Insider.

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