Bacterial pneumonia can usually be cured by taking antibiotic drugs. Viral pneumonia, like the common cold, can’t be cured. Although antiviral drugs may help some patients, most people with viral pneumonia get better on their own.
Antibiotic medications are the treatment of choice for pneumonia caused by bacterial and fungal infections. The exact choice of medications depends on many factors, including the following:
- The organism responsible for the infection
- The likelihood that the organism is resistant to certain antibiotics
- The patient’s underlying health condition
About 80% of cases of CAP can be managed at home with the patient taking oral antibiotics. There are numerous treatment regimens available. Initial treatment (before the causative organism has been identified) is called empiric treatment and is based upon the organisms most likely to be responsible for the illness. Once the exact organism has been identified in the laboratory and susceptibility testing performed to determine which antibiotics are effective, the treatment regimen can be further individualized. In around 20% of cases, CAP must be managed in the hospital, typically with intravenous antibiotics initially. HAP care is managed in the hospital, typically with intravenous antibiotics.
Antibiotics are not effective against viral pneumonia. Depending upon the type of virus that causes pneumonia, antiviral medications can provide benefit when started early in the course of the disease. For example, the medications oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) are used to treat influenza virus infections. Antifungal agents are used to treat most fungal pneumonias.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a home test for pneumonia?
Is pneumonia contagious from person to person?
Is Cold air bad if you have pneumonia?
Is a lung infection and pneumonia the same thing?
How long does it take for pneumonia to stop being contagious?
How do you treat pneumonia without antibiotics?
How do you know you have pneumonia?
Can you treat pneumonia at home?
Can you go to work with walking pneumonia?
Can you drink when you have pneumonia?
Can you die if you have pneumonia?
Can pneumonia go away on its own?
Can lungs heal after pneumonia?