8
Treatment
13. Antivirals
➤ We recommend that anti-influenza treatment, such as oseltamivir,
be prescribed for adults with CAP who test positive for influenza
in the inpatient setting, independent of duration of illness
before diagnosis (strong recommendation, moderate quality of
evidence).
➤ We suggest that anti-influenza treatment be prescribed for adults
with CAP who test positive for influenza in the outpatient setting,
independent of duration of illness before diagnosis (conditional
recommendation, low quality of evidence).
14. Antibiotics for Test-Positive Influenza
➤ We recommend that standard antibacterial treatment be initially
prescribed for adults with clinical and radiographic evidence of
CAP who test positive for influenza in the inpatient and outpatient
settings (strong recommendation, low quality of evidence).
15. Treatment Duration
➤ We recommend that the duration of antibiotic therapy should be
guided by a validated measure of clinical stability (resolution
of vital sign abnormalities [heart rate, respiratory rate, blood
pressure, oxygen saturation, and temperature], ability to eat, and
normal mentation), and antibiotic therapy should be continued
until the patient achieves stability and for no less than a total of
5 days (strong recommendation, moderate quality of evidence).
16. Follow-up X-ray
➤ In adults with CAP whose symptoms have resolved within 5-7
days, we suggest NOT routinely obtaining follow-up chest imaging
(conditional recommendation, low quality of evidence).
