Bottom Line
Strange, but true: Oral beta-lactam antibiotics— amoxicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin), or a cephalosporin—are as effective in the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia as antibiotics active against atypical pathogens, even in patients infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydia pneumoniae. These old standbys can be used instead of the more expensive drugs for most patients.
Legionella infection still requires treatment with an antibiotic effective against atypical pathogens, but in these studies only 1.1% of the patients with nonsevere pneumonia had Legionella. These results are backed up by similar findings from clinical practice (Hedlund J, et al. Scand J Infect Dis 2002; 34:887–892). (LOE=1a)