Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases. Supplementum
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Scand J Infect Dis Suppl · Jan 1984
Comparative StudyBeta-lactam antibiotics in lower respiratory tract infections.
Like in any infection, the choice of antibacterials in pulmonary infections of known bacterial etiology is simple. When etiology is not known, the choice must rest upon knowledge of the epidemiology of lower respiratory infections and the antibacterial spectrum of the antibiotics in question. The epidemiology of community-acquired lower respiratory infections is not too well studied. ⋯ However, most community-acquired infections in the lower respiratory tract respond to penicillin; tetracycline or erythromycin may be used for treatment when the clinical response is unsatisfactory. In patients who are known or suspected to have compromised host defense, beta-lactams such as ureido-penicillins and the new cephalosporins should be used as primary therapy. In hospital-acquired lower respiratory tract infections, the etiological diagnosis is more likely to be made.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)