Antibiotics During Respiratory Viral Pandemics and
Epidemics
➤ If treated at the time of hospital admission, HCP should
prescribe antibiotics recommended in guidelines for
community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) for patients
presenting from the community with co-infection.
• Antibiotics for pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, seen
more typically in healthcare-associated infection (HAI), are not
recommended.
➤ When there are new clinical signs that are consistent with
healthcare-associated bacterial or fungal infection, HCP may
consider antibiotics, including broad-spectrum coverage, for
patients hospitalized for greater than 48–72 hours who are at
greater risk for HAIs and MDROs.
➤ HCP may consider co-infection with other viruses, such as
influenza.
• If influenza is diagnosed, addition of therapy such as oseltamivir may be
indicated.
Microbiologic and Radiographic Diagnostic Tests
➤ Before initiating antibiotics, HCP should attempt to obtain a
microbiologic diagnosis.
➤ HCP should limit respiratory multiplex PCR tests to
ICU patients and patients who require broad-spectrum
antimicrobial therapy.
➤ HCP should restrict repeat microbiologic testing to changes
in a patient's clinical status.
➤ HCP should perform a nasal methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) swab for patients started on
anti-MRSA treatment.
