Nonsevere lung abscess without systemic features of infection or chest wall pain

For adults and children with nonsevere lung abscess (including patients with lung abscess complicating pneumonia), who do not have systemic features of infection or chest wall pain, use:

amoxicillin+clavulanate 875+125 mg (child 2 months or older: 22.5+3.2 mg/kg up to 875+125 mg) orally, 12-hourly¹ ². See Modification and duration of therapy for nonsevere lung abscess. For dosage adjustment in adults with kidney impairment, see amoxicillin+clavulanate oral dosage adjustment. amoxicillin + clavulanate amoxicillin+clavulanate amoxicillin+clavulanate

For patients with hypersensitivity to penicillins who do not have risk factors for lung abscess with gram-negative bacteria, use:

clindamycin 450 mg (child: 10 mg/kg up to 450 mg) orally, 8-hourly; see Modification and duration of therapy for nonsevere lung abscess. clindamycin clindamycin clindamycin

For patients with hypersensitivity to penicillins who have risk factors for lung abscess with gram-negative bacteria (eg patients with aspiration pneumonia secondary to aspiration of vomit), consider replacing clindamycin with an antimicrobial regimen with activity against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (eg moxifloxacin) – seek expert advice.

¹ For patients with a lung abscess suspected to be due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, consider giving amoxicillin+clavulanate 8-hourly, or adding an additional amoxicillin dose (eg 1 g [child: 25 mg/kg up to 1 g] orally, at midday) to the 12-hourly amoxicillin+clavulanate regimen.Return

² Amoxicillin+clavulanate may be suitable for children aged 1 month to younger than 2 months but a different dosage is required.Return