Rosh Internal Medicine Boost Practice Exam

What is a recommended treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in patients without comorbidities?

1. Amoxicillin

2. Doxycycline

3. Macrolide

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

In the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients without comorbidities, several antibiotics are recommended, and all of the listed options are appropriate choices. Amoxicillin is a well-established treatment, especially effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a common pathogen in CAP. It is generally preferred due to its effectiveness against the typical organisms causing pneumonia and its favorable side effect profile. Doxycycline is another recommended option, offering broad coverage against both typical pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae and atypical pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Its use is particularly suitable in patients with a history of penicillin allergy. Macrolides, such as azithromycin and clarithromycin, are also effective in treating CAP. They are especially beneficial in patients where atypical pathogens may be a concern and provide good coverage for common organisms that cause pneumonia. Given that each of these antibiotics is suitable for treating community-acquired pneumonia in patients who are otherwise healthy, the best recommendation is indeed to consider any of these options as effective treatments. Hence, all listed choices are valid treatment options for this scenario.