TABLE 3.

Doses of antimicrobials for suspected or proven bacterial pneumonia

Antibiotic	Route	Regimen
Amoxicillin	PO	75–100 mg/kg/day divided tid*
		Maximum 1 g tid
Amoxicillin-clavulanate	PO	75–100 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin component divided tid†
		Maximum 500 mg tid
Ampicillin	IV	200 mg/kg/day divided q6h
		Maximum 2 g q6h
Azithromycin	IV/PO	10 mg/kg day 1; 5 mg/kg days 2–5
		Maximum 500 mg day 1; 250 mg days 2–5
Cefprozil	PO	30 mg/kg/day divided bid
		Maximum 500 mg bid
Cefotaxime	IV	200 mg/kg/day divided q6h
		Maximum 1500 mg to 2 g q6h
Ceftriaxone	IV	75–100 mg/kg/day divided q12h or q24h
		Maximum 2 g daily
Cefuroxime axetil	PO	30 mg/kg/day divided tid
		Maximum 500 mg tid
Cefuroxime	IV	150 mg/kg/day divided q8h
		Maximum 1.5 g q8h
Clarithromycin	PO	15 mg/kg/day divided bid
		Maximum 500 mg bid
Clindamycin	PO	30–40 mg/kg/day divided tid
		Maximum 450 mg tid
Clindamycin	IV	40 mg/kg/day divided q8h
		Maximum 600 mg q8h
Linezolid	IV/PO	<40 kg: 30 mg/kg/day divided tid
		12 years of age or older 600 mg bid
Vancomycin	IV	40 mg/kg/day divided qid‡
		Maximum 500 mg qid‡

^*Although twice daily (bid) dosing is adequate for otitis media, three times daily (tid) dosing is recommended for pneumonia;

^†Alternatively, one could supplement 50 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin-clavulanate with 25 mg/kg/day to 50 mg/kg/day of amoxicillin to reduce the risk of diarrhea with use of amoxicillin-clavulanate alone. To learn how to do this, go to www.cps.ca/english/statements/ID/ID09-01.htm#TABLE4

^‡Higher doses may be indicated for highly resistant strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. IV Intravenously; PO Orally; q6h Every 6 h; q8h Every 8 h; q12h Every 12 h; q24h Every 24 h; qid Four times daily