ABSTRACT
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the most common type of infection managed by healthcare providers and are of potentially great consequence. Overall, RTIs are the greatest single cause of death in children worldwide, whereas lower RTIs are the most common cause of death caused by infectious disease in the United States. The discovery of potent antimicrobial agents was one of the greatest contributions to medicine in the 20th century. Antibiotic overuse and inappropriate antibiotic selection have been associated with increased drug resistance among several respiratory pathogens—most notably S. pneumoniae, the most common bacterial pathogen in RTI. The widespread morbidity caused by RTIs is a serious problem for society in general and clinicians in particular. The appropriate management of RTIs poses multiple challenges for the clinician. Inappropriate prescribing practices have contributed to the development of drug resistance among common respiratory pathogens.
