ABSTRACT
An attempt should be made to achieve pathogen-directed antimicrobial therapy (Table 13.4).
Patients with malignancies should be considered at risk of penicillin-resistant pneumococci. Intravenous (IV) treatment should be started immediately including:
■ third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime 1 g every 8 hours or ceftriaxone 1 g every 24 hours) or
■ combination of amoxicillin/clavulanate in case of lung cancer, head and neck cancer and brain tumors
■ macrolide (erythromycin, total daily dose 2-4 g IV) should be added in order to treat legionnaires’ disease; azithromycin or a fluoroquinolone can be used as well.
