Antibiotic Guidelines
Northern Michigan

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Syndrome
Primary Rx
Alternate Rx
Comments
Pharyngitis, streptococcal
  • Penicillin V 500 mg qid x 10d
  • Erythromycin
  • Clindamycin
  • Cephalexin
Diagnosis is based on streptococcal throat screen or culture.
Sinusitis, acute
  • Amoxicillin 500-1000 mg tid
  • Azithromycin 500 mg x 1; 250 mg daily thereafter
  • Doxycycline 100 mg bid
  • Amoxicillin/clavulanate
  • 2nd gen cephalosporin
  • Resp quinolone
  • TMP/SMX
Symptoms should have been present for more than 7 days. Antibiotic therapy is not always indicated.
Sinusitis, chronic
  • Value of antibiotics is uncertain; consider ENT and/or ID consultation.
Bronchitis, acute
  • Antibiotics are not indicated.
This is usually viral in orgin.
Otitis media, acute
  • Amoxicillin--
  • Peds 15-30 mg/kg tid
  • Adults 500-1000 mg tid
  • 2nd generation cephalosporin
  • Amoxicillin/clavulanate
  • Azithromycin
  • Ceftriaxone
Antibiotics are not always required.
COPD, acute exacerbation
  • Doxycycline 100 mg po bid
  • Amoxicillin 500-1000 mg po tid
  • TMP/SMX
  • 2nd gen cephalosporin
  • Azithromycin
  • Respiratory quinolone
Antibiotics are not always indicated.
Pneumonia, community acquired - outpatient
  • Azithromycin 500 mg po daily
  • Doxycycline 100 mg po bid
  • (2nd gen cephalosporin or Amoxicillin) + Azithromycin
Use respiratory quinolone if significant comorbidities present.
Pneumonia, community acquired - inpatient, non-ICU
  • Ceftriaxone 1-2 gm IV qd + Azithromycin 500 mg qd
  • Resp quinolone
Pneumonia, community acquired - inpatient, ICU, non-pseudomonal
  • (Ceftriaxone 2 gm IV qd or Amp/sulbactam 3 gm IV q6) + (Azithromycin 500 mg qd or Resp quinolone)
  • Resp quinolone + Aztreonam
Add Vancomycin (or linezolid) for MRSA risk
Pneumonia, community acquired - inpatient, ICU, pseudomonas
  • (Cefepime 2gm IV q8 or Pip/tazo 4.5 gm IV q 6 or Imipenem/Meropenem) + (Cipro 400 mg IV q12 or levofloxacin 750 mg qd)
  • (Pip/tazo or Cefepime or Imipenem/ Meropenem) + Tobramycin + Azithromycin
  • Aztreonam + (Levofloxacin or Moxifloxacin)
Add Vancomycin (or Linezolid) for MRSA risk
Pneumonia, healthcare acquired
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5gm iv q 6hr plus (Gentamicin, Aztreonam, or Resp quinolone) +/- Vancomycin
  • (Cefepime or Imipenem/Meropenem) + Resp quinolone
  • Clindamycin + Resp quinolone + Aztreonam
  • Add vancomycin if MRSA is supected
Pneumonia acquired by persons in long term care, frequent hospitalization, etc.
Pneumonia, aspiration
  • Clindamycin 900mg q 12 hr +/- (3rd gen cephalosporin or Aztreonam )
  • Ampicillin/sulbactam +/- (Gentamicin, Aztreonam, or quinolone)
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam
  • Imipenem or Meropenem
  • Clindamycin + Resp quinolone
This applies to community acquired aspiration; for healthcare aquired aspiraton, see pneumonia, heathcare acquired
Cystitis, uncomplicated
  • TMP/SMX DS po bid x 3d
  • Nitrofurantoin (7 day course)
  • Ciprofloxacin (3d)
Usually in young women without complicating urologic factors.
Pyelonephritis, uncomplicated
  • Ampicillin 2 gm IV q 6 hr + Gentamicin IV
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Vancomycin + Gentamicin
  • Piperacillin + Gentamicin
Acute pyelonephritis in patients without urinary obstruction, stones, other complicating urologic abnormalities
Pyelonephritis, complicated
  • Ampicillin 2 gm IV q 6 hr + Gentamicin IV
  • Vancomycin + (Gentamicin or Aztreonam)
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam
Complicated pyelo includes patients with obstruction, stones, urologic instrumentation, etc.
Cellulitis, mild
  • Dicloxacillin 500 mg po qid
  • Cephalexin 500 mg po qid
  • Clindamycin
Suspect MRSA if purulent skin disease is present - see MRSA algorithms.
Cellulitis, severe
  • Cefazolin 2 gm IV q8 hr
  • Nafcillin 2 gm IV q 4-6 hr
  • Clindamycin
  • Vancomycin
These patients may require hospitilization; if MRSA is suspected, see MRSA algorithm.
Diabetic foot infection, outpatient
  • Dicloxacillin 500 mg po qid
  • Cephalexin 500 mg po qid
  • Amoxicillin/clavulanate
  • Clindamycin + (TMP/SMX or Ciprofloxacin)
Diabetic foot infection, inpatient
  • Ampicillin/sulbactam 3 gm IV q 6h
  • Clindamycin 900 mg IV q12h + (Gentamicin or Ciprofloxacin)
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam
"Fetid foot"
Peritonitis; intra-abdominal, intra-pelvic abscess
  • Metronidazole 500 mg IV/PO q 8 hr + (Gentamicin, Aztreonam, or Ciprofloxacin) + (Ampicillin or Vancomycin)
  • Ampicillin/sulbactam + gentamicin
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam
  • Imipenem or Meropenem
Clostridium difficile associated disease
  • Metronidazole 500 mg po tid x 10d
  • Vancomycin 125 mg po qid x 10d
New epidemic strain causes more relapses, complications.
Arthritis, septic
  • (Cefazolin 2 gm IV q 8 hr or Nafcillin 2gm IV q 4-6 hr) +/- Gentamicin
  • Ceftriaxone 1 gm q 24 hr if gonorrhea is suspected
  • (Clindamycin or Vancomycin)+/- (Gentamicin, Aztreonam, or Ciprofloxacin)
Acute, community acquired, non-prosthetic joint. If MRSA is suspected, see MRSA algorithm-severe.
Bite, animal or human, outpatient
  • Amoxicillin/clavulanate 875 mg po bid
  • Clindamycin + (TMP/SMX or Doxycycline)
Bite, animal or human, inpatient
  • Ampicillin/sulbactam 3 gm IV q 6 hr
  • Ceftriazone
  • Clindamycin + (TMP/SMX or Doxycycline)
MRSA, mild to moderate
  • TMP/SMX, doxycycline, or clindamycin (check sensitivities)
  • Linezolid
ID consult is required for use of Linezolid (MMC).
MRSA, severe
  • Vancomycin IV
  • Linezolid
  • Daptomycin
  • Tigecycline
ID consult is required for the use of the alternate therapies (MMC).
Cutaneous abscess, carbuncles
  • Doxycycline 100 mg po bid
  • TMP/SMX DS po bid
  • Clindamycin
  • Linezolid
I&D may be sufficient; obtain cultures

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These guidelines are created by physicians of Infectious Diseases Consultants, Traverse City and Northern Michigan Hospital, Petoskey, MI. They are created based on likely antibiotic effectiveness and local antibiotic susceptiblities and are intended as empiric recommendations only. Individual patient circumstances may necessitate alternate choices.
Doses are for adults with normal renal function.
2nd gen cephalosporins include cefuroxime, cefpodoxime; Resp quinolones include levofloxacin, moxifloxacin