Newest medical follow guideline contains framework for extra focused pneumonia remedy. Credit score: ATS
Pneumonia, a largely preventable illness, precipitated greater than two million deaths in 2021, in accordance with the International Burden of Illness report. Proof-based steerage on its analysis and administration is, due to this fact, a precedence for clinicians.
Now, the American Thoracic Society has revealed a brand new medical follow guideline (CPG), which expands upon its 2019 suggestions.
The remedy length with antibiotics, for instance, is a spotlight of the brand new guideline. “The duration of therapy needs to be tailored to the individual. If the patient does not have severe pneumonia and the symptoms improve within three days of treatment, the patient can be treated with a minimum of three days of therapy,” stated Julio Ramirez, MD, co-lead of the rule of thumb panel and emeritus professor of drugs within the Division of Infectious Ailments on the College of Louisville.
Dr. Ramirez additionally explains the panel’s deliberation in an episode of the ATS Breathe Simple podcast.
The newest guideline, revealed within the American Journal of Respiratory and Essential Care Drugs, offers updates to 2 questions from the 2019 guideline and addresses two new questions: using ultrasound for the analysis of pneumonia and the necessity for antibiotic remedy in sufferers with a constructive check for a viral pathogen.
As well as, “This CPG includes a very important table that provides a framework for individualization of the recommendations since most of them are conditional (without high quality evidence),” famous Barbara Jones, MD, MS, co-lead of the rule of thumb panel. “It should be accompanied by support to clinicians to individualize to specific patients and their circumstances.”
Utilizing the grading of suggestions, evaluation, improvement and analysis (GRADE) framework, the panel made the next suggestions:
1. Ought to lung ultrasound be thought of an inexpensive different to chest X-ray for analysis in adults with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)? (new)
For adults with suspected CAP, we recommend lung ultrasound is a suitable different to chest X-ray in medical facilities the place acceptable medical experience exists (conditional advice, low-quality proof).
Abstract of pointers
2. Ought to adults with community-acquired pneumonia who check constructive for a respiratory virus be handled with antibacterial remedy? (new)
For grownup outpatients with out comorbidities who’ve medical and imaging proof of CAP and who check constructive for a respiratory virus, we recommend not prescribing empiric antibiotics (conditional advice, very low-quality proof).
3. Ought to adults with community-acquired pneumonia who attain medical stability be handled with lower than 5 days of antibiotics? (replace from 2019)
For grownup outpatients with CAP who attain medical stability, we recommend lower than 5 days of antibiotics (minimal of three days length), relatively than 5 or extra days of antibiotics (conditional advice, low-quality proof).
4. Ought to adults who’re hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia be handled with corticosteroids? (replace from 2019)
For grownup inpatients with non-severe CAP, we suggest NOT administering systemic corticosteroids (sturdy advice, low-quality proof).
For grownup inpatients with extreme CAP, we recommend systemic corticosteroids (conditional advice, low-quality proof).
For sufferers like Lauren Surett of North Carolina, the worth of evolving medical pointers is obvious. Her expertise with pneumonia ” … reshaped how I think about respiratory illness, public health, and the need for clear, up-to-date clinical guidance that reflects how viruses and bacteria evolve—and how those changes affect real people’s lives.”
Supplied by
American Thoracic Society
Quotation:
Therapy with antibiotics and steroids in adults with pneumonia addressed in newest medical follow guideline (2025, November 12)
retrieved 12 November 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-11-treatment-antibiotics-steroids-adults-pneumonia.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any honest dealing for the aim of personal examine or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is supplied for data functions solely.
