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The treatment of bacterial pneumonia is done with the use of medications that must be recommended by the doctor according to the microorganism related to the disease. When the disease is diagnosed early and the doctor discovers that the cause is due to bacteria and that it was acquired outside the hospital, treatment with antibiotics can be done at home, in light cases, or in the hospital for a few days and with signs improvement, the doctor can let the person finish the treatment at home.
In cases of severe bacterial pneumonia, which occurs mainly in individuals with HIV, the elderly and children, it may be necessary for the person to be admitted to the hospital to receive antibiotics through the vein. In addition, in these cases, respiratory physiotherapy may be necessary to help remove secretions and improve the patient's breathing.
Learn more about bacterial pneumonia.
Antibiotics for pneumonia
The antibiotic indicated for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia may vary according to the microorganism responsible for the infection, and may be indicated:
- Amoxicillin;
- Azithromycin;
- Ceftriaxone;
- Fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin and moxifloxacin;
- Penicillins;
- Cephalosporins;
- Vancomycin;
- Carbapenems, such as meropenem, ertapenem and imipenem.
It is important that treatment with antibiotics is done according to the doctor's guidance and that it be continued even if there are no more signs or symptoms. In most cases, the use of antibiotics should be maintained for about 7 to 10 days, however it can be extended to 15 or 21 days depending on the severity of the infection and the person's health.
Care during treatment
During treatment with antibiotics, it is important that the person has some care so that complications are avoided and the improvement is faster, being recommended to rest, drink plenty of water during the day and have a healthy and balanced diet.
Bacterial pneumonia does not spread from person to person, so the patient does not need to be isolated from other people, but it is important to avoid contact with others to facilitate their own recovery.
See how food can help recovery in this video:
Signs of improvement and worsening
The signs of improvement usually appear around 3 days after the start of antibiotic treatment, with a reduction in fever, cough and phlegm, as well as a reduction in shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
On the other hand, when treatment is not started soon after the onset of signs and symptoms of the disease, it is possible that signs of worsening may be observed, such as an increase or persistence of fever, coughing with phlegm, and there may be traces of blood and increased shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
The worsening may also be related to infections in other parts of the body or the poor choice of antibiotics used, their combination or dosage.
Possible complications
In some cases, bacterial pneumonia can worsen with death of the lung tissue or accumulation of pus in the lungs, requiring the adoption of other antibiotics to puncture or put a drain to eliminate secretions.
Another possible complication that can occur is bacterial resistance to antibiotics, which can happen due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics, for example. Understand why the inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to resistance.