| Infection
|
Duration
|
Comments
|
| Urinary Tract Infections
|
| Women or adolescents with uncomplicated cystitis
|
Nitrofurantoin for 5 days, TMP-SMX for 3 days, fosfomycin for 1 day
|
young non-pregnant female adolescents or adults with normal urinary tracts and normal renal function
|
| Children with febrile urinary tract infection
|
7 to 14 days
|
assumes upper tract involvement if febrile
|
| Adults with pyelonephritis and urosepsis
|
consider initial dose of IV; quinolones or beta-lactams for 7 days
|
excludes patients with urogenital abnormalities, stents, or drains; duration depends on clinical response
|
| Respiratory Tract Infections
|
| Streptococcal pharyngitis
|
10 days (penicillin V or amoxicillin)
|
studies limited to pediatrics
|
| Acute otitis media
|
10 days (6 months to 2 years) or 5 days (over 2 years)
|
if moderately to severely ill with bulging tympanic membrane
|
| Acute uncomplicated sinusitis
|
5 to 7 days
|
reassess at 7 days
|
| Community-acquired pneumonia
|
5 to 7 days
|
excludes patients with underlying lung disease, immunosuppression, and empyema; depends on clinical response
|
| Hospital-acquired pneumonia
|
≤7 days
|
excludes severely immunosuppressed patient or those with collections/abscesses
|
| Acute exacerbation of COPD
|
5 to 7 days
|
only if antibiotics are indicated
|
| Intra-abdominal Infections
|
| Uncomplicated appendicitis
|
pre-operative antibiotics only
|
if gangrenous or perforated, continue for additional 24 to 48 hours after source control
|
| Traumatic bowel perforation
|
up to 24 hours post-operatively
|
if operated on within 12 hours of trauma
|
| Gastroduodenal perforation
|
up to 24 hours post-operatively
|
if operated on within 24 hours
|
| Intra-abdominal abscess
|
<7 days
|
if source control is adequate, regardless of whether drainage is still in place
|
| Skin Infections
|
| Uncomplicated cellulitis
|
5 to 7 days
|
|
| Bone and Joint Infections
|
| Children with acute osteomyelitis
|
3 to 4 weeks
|
transition to oral therapy once clinically improving and CRP decreasing
|
| Adults with acute vertebral osteomyelitis
|
6 weeks
|
excludes those with implantable devices; may be longer for Salmonella or Brucella
|
| Adults with acute septic arthritis
|
2 weeks (small joints) or 4 weeks (large joints)
|
duration after surgical drainage
|
| Bacteremia
|
| Enterobacterales
|
7 days
|
if source control and not associated with syndrome requiring longer therapy
|
| Staphylococcus aureus (uncomplicated)
|
14 days (IV)
|
if other focusses are excluded
|
| Staphylococcus aureus (complicated)
|
4 to 6 weeks (IV)
|
|
| Streptococcus pneumoniae, with pneumonia
|
5 to 7 days
|
if clinically improving
|
