Acute

  • symptoms < 4 weeks
  • ≤ 3 episodes per year
Usual Pathogens

S. pneumoniae
M. catarrhalis
H. influenzae

 
Occasionally:

S. aureus
Group A Streptococci
Anaerobes

 

Empiric Therapy Dose Duration
Amoxicillin - standard dose 40mg/kg/d PO div tid 10 days
or    
Amoxicillin - high dose 90mg/kg/d PO div bid-tid 10 days

Non severe penicillin allergy

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
[Clindamycin 20-30mg/kg/d PO div tid 10 days
+    
Cefixime] 8mg/kg/d PO div bid  
or    
Cefuroxime axetil 30mg/kg/d PO div bid 10 days

Severe penicillin allergy or cephalosporin allergy AND local S. pneumoniae tetracycline or TMP/SMX resistance < 20%

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Doxycycline (> 8 years old) 4mg/kg/d PO div bid 10 days
or    
TMP/SMX 8-12mg TMP/kg/d PO div bid 10 days

Severe/Immunocompromised

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Amoxicillin 45mg/kg/d PO div bid-tid 10 days
+    
Amoxicillin-clavulanate
(7:1 - Clavulin -200 or -400)
45mg/kg/d PO div bid-tid  

Nonsevere ß-lactam allergy

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Ceftriaxone 100mg/kg IV daily 10 days

Severe ß-lactam allergy/anaphylaxis

Empiric Therapy

Dose

Duration
Levofloxacin 10-20mg/kg/d IV/PO div q12-24h 10 days