Table 1.

Antibiotic recommendation based on the severity of the infection

Site	Severity or extent	Route of administration	Duration of therapy
Soft tissue only	Mild	Topical or oral	1-2 wk may extend up to 4 wk if slow to resolve (outpatient)
	Moderate	Oral (or initial parenteral)	1-3 wk (Outpatient/inpatient)
	Severe	Initial parenteral, switch to oral when possible	2-4 wk (Inpatient, then outpatient)
Bone or joint	No residual infected tissue (e.g., post-amputation)	Parenteral or oral	2-5 d
	Residual infected soft tissue (but not bone)	Parenteral or oral	1-3 wk
	Residual infected (but viable) bone	Initial parenteral, then consider switching to oral	4-6 wk
	No surgery, or residual dead bone post-operatively	Initial parenteral, then consider switching to oral	≥ 3 mo