Examples of Therapy

Question 1

Examples

Prophylaxis

Answer 1

T/S to prevent P. jirovecii (formerly carinii) pneumonia in a patient on cyclosporine and prednisone after a liver transplant

Azithromycin to prevent Mycobacterium avium intracellularae (MAI or MAC) in an HIV patient with a low CD4 count

Cefazolin given before surgery to prevent a staph skin infection of surgical site

Question 2

Examples

Empiric Therapy

Answer 2

Levofloxacin for patient with presumed CA-pneumonia

Ceftriaxone for treatment of suspected pyelonephritis

Voriconazole for neutropenic bone marrow transplant patient with shortness of breath and a radiograph suggestive of pulmonary aspergillosis

Vancomycin, tobramycin, and meropenem for probable HA-acquired pneumonia in the ICU

Question 3

Examples

Definitive Therapy

Answer 3

Transitioning from Pip/Tazo to Ampicillin in patient with wound infection caused by E. faecalis (which is susceptible to both drugs)

Stopping Ceftriaxone and starting Ciprofloxacin for patient with UTI caused by K. pneumoniae that is resistant to Ceftriaxone

Stopping Caspofungin and starting Fluconazole for improving patient with Candida in a blood isolate when identified as C. albicans (generally susceptible to Fluconazole)

Narrowing therapy from Vancomycin, Ciprofloxacin, and Imipenem/Cilastatin to Linezolid for patient with HA-pneumonia whose deep respiratory culture grew only MRSA that is Linezolid susceptible