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duration of antibiotic therapy

Complications: - little evidence that failing to complete a prescribed antibiotic course contributes to antibiotic resistance [2] Management: Minimum duration of antibiotic therapy & anticipated symptomatic improvement: [1] 1) general bacterial septicemia a) duration: 2 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 1 1/2 weeks 2) Staphylococcus aureus septicemia a) duration: 3-6 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 1 1/2 weeks 3) bacterial cellulitis a) duration: 1 week b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 2 days 4) bacterial septic arthritis a) duration: 2 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 5 days 5) post-Chlamydia arthritis a) duration: 3 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 5 days 6) bacterial meningitis (except tuberculosis) a) duration: 2-3 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 2 days 7) bacterial endocarditis a) duration: 4-6 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 8 days 8) bacterial prostatitis a) duration: 4 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 5 days 9) bacterial pneumonia a) duration: 3 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 5 days 10) uncomplicated urinary tract infection a) duration: 1 week b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 3 days 11) complicated urinary tract infection a) duration: 2 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 6 days 12) pharyngitis, otitis & sinusitis a) duration: 10 days b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 4 days 13) bacterial osteomyelitis a) duration: 4-6 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 12 days 14) abdominal abscess a) duration: 2-4 weeks b) anticipated symptomatic improvement: 5 days

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antibiotic therapy

References

  1. Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
  2. Llewelyn MJ, Fitzpatrick JM, Darwin E et al The antibiotic course has had its day BMJ 2017;358:j3418 PMID: 28747365 http://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3418