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Evaluation of the response to therapy

Ali admitted patients should receive initial therapy within 8 hours after admission to the hospital intravenously to be surę that the medication has been absorbed.

A switch to orał therapy once the patient shows a good clinical response (usually within 72 hours): relief of cough, sputum production, dyspnea, afebrile status for at least 8 hours, lower WBC. Discharge if otherwise medically and socially stable. Observation in hospital is not necessary!

After initial combination therapy regimen, stepdown to monotherapy can be done once appropriate culture data are availabie.

S.pneumoniae:    7-10 days

M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae: 10-14 days L. pneumophila:    21 days