DURATION OF THERAPY
No randomized controlled trials have established
the optimal duration of therapy for
children with uncomplicated CAP.26 In most
cases, seven to 10 days of empiric outpatient
therapy is sufficient.7,25,26 Azithromycin
(Zithromax) should be continued for five
days. Patients should be reevaluated 24 to
48 hours after the initiation of empiric therapy.
7 Ineffective empiric therapy may be the
result of inappropriate drug selection, resistance
to the initial agents, or development
of complications.7 Some evidence suggests
that short-course, high-dose amoxicillin
therapy (90 mg per kg per day for five days)
may reduce the risk of carriage of penicillinnonsusceptible
pneumococci compared with
longer-course, lower-dose regimens (40 mg
per kg per day for 10 days)