Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treatment

Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treatment
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Community-Acquired Pneumonia Treatment
               If the first-line therapy (doxycycline) does not work, I would prescribe amoxicillin/clavulanate 875/125 mg, every twelve hours for seven days to treat community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Veeraraghavan, Bakthavatchalam, and Sahni (2021) indicate that amoxicillin/clavulanate is a commonly used community antibiotic that has been used effectively to treat respiratory tract infections, among others because it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. This combination has better oral absorption as well as the distribution within the body. According to Matho, et al. (2018), the use of amoxicillin/clavulanate 875/125 mg has been recommended as the standard dose for treating Streptococcus pneumoniae, especially when the rate of penicillin-resistance is less than 10% in the community. Amoxicillin/clavulanate 875/125 mg has also been found to be effective in treating Haemophilus influenzae infections such as pneumonia (Veeraraghavan, Bakthavatchalam, & Sahni, 2021). Further, when used as a standard dose, amoxicillin/clavulanate 875/125 mg is well-tolerated with only mild adverse reactions.
               To assess the success of the treatment, I would use the symptoms presented as parameters. First, the fever should go away within the first three days. In addition, the patient should report improvement in terms of reduced sinus congestion, decreased coughing, and sputum production, among other symptoms within three days (Matho, et al., 2018). Further, the patient’s symptoms should subside gradually as they continue taking the drug until they disappear. However, some symptoms such as fatigue might still be present even after completing the dose. As a rule, if there is no improvement, this could be an indication of antibiotics resistance and a different antibiotic therapy would be given. 
               For this therapy to be effective, the patient must receive education on how to use it. First, I would inform the patient to swallow the tablets with a glass of water and ensure that they take them during mealtime. According to Veeraraghavan, Bakthavatchalam, and Sahni (2021), taking the drugs with meals increase their absorption into the bloodstream. It also reduces gastrointestinal-related adverse reactions. Second, I would inform the patient that the drug should be taken at evenly spaced periods. Ensuring that the drugs are taken at regular intervals, in the case after every 12 hours, ensures that the differences between the peaks and troughs of the antimicrobial are at a minimum (Veeraraghavan, Bakthavatchalam, & Sahni, 2021). To ensure that the patient remembers to take the drug, I would advise her to take the first drug with breakfast and the other with dinner every day at the exact time for seven days/ until they complete the treatment. I would be sure to inform the patient that in case they forget to swallow a tablet, they should swallow it as soon as they remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, they should just skip the forgotten dose and t...