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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThe best approach to treating pneumonia depends on a number of factors, including your age and general health, the organism or organisms involved, and the setting — community or health care — where the infection developed. Treatment may include:
Medication
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial pneumonia. Other medications may help improve breathing and relieve symptoms in bacterial and viral pneumonia. Medication options include:
- Antibiotics. The decision to treat pneumonia with an antibiotic isn't always straightforward. Even with a high likelihood of bacterial infection, it takes time to identify the bacterium involved and choose the best antibiotic to wipe it out. Initially, your doctor may prescribe a particular antibiotic based on trends in infection and antibiotic use in your area. If tests show that you need a different drug or your condition doesn't improve, you may switch to another antibiotic.
- Antivirals. Your doctor may recommend antiviral medication for viral pneumonia. Antibiotics are not effective for treating viral pneumonia.
- Fever reducers. You may treat your fever with aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen. (Children should not take aspirin.)
- Cough medicine. Talk to your doctor before taking cough medicine. Coughing helps loosen and get rid of extra sputum. If your doctor advises cough medicine, only take enough to calm your cough and get some rest.
Hospital admission
Community-acquired pneumonia generally does not require hospital care. You may need to be admitted, however, if you have any two of these indicators of severity. If you have three or more, you may need admission to an intensive care unit:
- You are older than 65 years
- You become confused
- Your breathing is rapid
- Your blood pressure drops
- Your need breathing assistance, including oxygen or respiratory therapy
- Pneumonia. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec05/ch052/ch052a.html. Accessed April 8, 2011.
- Pneumonia. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org/lung-disease/pneumonia/. Accessed March 17, 2011.
- Durrington H, et al. Recent changes in the management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults. British Medical Journal. 2008;336:1429.
- Menendez R, et al. Treatment failure in community-acquired pneumonia. Chest. 2007;132:1348.
- Singh S, et al. Long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of pneumonia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A meta-analysis. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009;169:219.
- Chong C, et al. Pneumonia in the elderly: A review of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, microbiology and clinical features. Southern Medical Journal. 2008;101:1141.
- Chong C, et al. Pneumonia in the elderly: A review of severity assessment, prognosis, mortality, prevention and treatment. Southern Medical Journal. 2008;101:1134.
- Pneumococcal disease in-short. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pneumo/in-short-both.htm. Accessed March 23, 2011.
- File TM. Treatment of hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2011.
- Mandell LA, et al. Pneumonia. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2899132. Accessed April 5, 2011.
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