Longer antibiotics are associated with increased costs and adverse effects and increase the potential for bacterial resistance. A recent paper in the Lancet describes a study conducted in France comparing the outcomes of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who are hospitalized but not critically ill with a short course of antibiotics (3 days) compared to standard treatment (8 days). The study found that the short course was non-inferior to the longer course of antibiotics and may have implications for treating the common infection.

References and resources:
Dinh A, Ropers J, Duran C, et al. Discontinuing β-lactam treatment after 3 days for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in non-critical care wards (PTC): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2021 Mar 27;397(10280):1195-1203. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00313-5. PMID: 33773631.

Continuing Education Information:
Learning Objective: Discuss the difference between 3-day and 8-day antibiotic use in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
0.05 CEU | 0.5 Hrs
ACPE UAN: 0107-0000-21-210-H01-P
0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM
Initial release date: 6/1/21
Expiration date: 6/1/22
Complete CPE & CME details can be found at here

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