ABSTRACT
Community-acquired respiratory tract infections (CRTIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide, and they are associated with substantial health care costs. In addition, CRTIs are the most common reason for the use of antimicrobial agents, much of which use is inappropriate. In recent years, the management of these infections has been challenged by the escalation of antimicrobial resistance among predominant pathogens.
