Most respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Bacterial respiratory tract infections are usually treated empirically with antibiotic therapy that targets the most probable causative pathogens. Recommended antibiotic regimens for outpatient treatment of some common respiratory tract infections are listed in Table 1 for adults and Table 2 for children.

Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is usually empiric, with selected antibiotic regimens directed against some of the most common causative pathogens. Recommended empiric regimens are listed in Table 2; recommended antibiotic dosages for treatment of CAP are listed in Tables 3 and 4. Joint guidelines for treatment of CAP by the American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) were updated in 2019.

The FDA has required changes in the labeling of all systemic fluoroquinolone antibiotics to strengthen warnings about the risk of severe hypoglycemia and mental health effects associated with their use.1

An FDA review identified 67 cases of hypoglycemic coma associated with fluoroquinolone use, 22 of which resulted in death or disability. Most cases occurred in patients with risk factors such as diabetes (especially those taking a sulfonylurea), older age, or renal insufficiency.1 In observational studies in older adults and patients with diabetes, fluoroquinolones have been associated with increased risks of hypo- and hyperglycemia.2,3 Patients taking a fluoroquinolone (especially those with risk factors) should be counseled about the symptoms of hypoglycemia and monitored for blood glucose disturbances. The drug should be stopped if dysglycemia occurs.

The labels of all systemic fluoroquinolones will now include warnings about delirium, agitation, nervousness, and disturbances in attention, memory, and orientation. These effects can occur after a single fluoroquinolone dose; the drug should be stopped if such effects occur. Systemic fluoroquinolones can also cause persistent or permanent peripheral neuropathy,4 and their use has been associated with an increased risk of pseudotumor cerebri syndrome.5

Other serious adverse effects associated with use of systemic fluoroquinolones include tendinitis and tendon rupture, exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, Clostridium difficile infection, and (except for delafloxacin [Baxdela]) QT-interval prolongation and torsades de pointes. The FDA recommends avoiding use of fluoroquinolones in patients with uncomplicated urinary tract infection, acute sinusitis, or acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, except when no alternative treatment option is available.6

Additional Content Available Online: Comparison Table: Some Systemic Fluoroquinolones

1. FDA. July 10, 2018. Available at: www.fda.gov. Accessed August 2, 2018.
2. LY Park-Wyllie et al. Outpatient gatifloxacin therapy and dysglycemia in older adults. N Engl J Med 2006; 354:1352.
3. HW Chou et al. Risk of severe dysglycemia among diabetic patients receiving levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, or moxifloxacin in Taiwan. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 57:971.
4. In brief: Fluoroquinolones and peripheral neuropathy. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2013; 55:89.
5. M Sodhi et al. Oral fluoroquinolones and risk of secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome: nested case-control study. Neurology 2017; 89:792.
6. Alternatives to fluoroquinolones. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2016; 58:75.

Download complete U.S. English article

The FDA has approved delafloxacin (Baxdela – Melinta), an anionic fluoroquinolone antibiotic, for oral and parenteral treatment of adults with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs), including those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is the first fluoroquinolone to be approved for treatment of MRSA.

View the Comparison Table: Some Systemic Fluoroquinolones (online only)

Bacterial infections in adults are generally treated empirically, with the antibiotic covering most, but not all, of the potential causative pathogens. For some infections, culture and sensitivity testing can guide treatment, allowing for use of narrower-spectrum antibiotics. The recommended dosages and durations of antibiotic treatment for common respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections are listed in Tables 1-3. Infectious disease experts now recommend shorter treatment durations for many infections to reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance and minimize adverse effects.