What treatment is commonly used for inpatient pneumonia?

Inpatient pneumonia, particularly cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization, often necessitates broad-spectrum antibiotics to ensure effective coverage of the common pathogens associated with this condition. Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that is routinely used in the inpatient setting because it offers good coverage against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and certain gram-negative bacteria. It is effective for treating severe infections due to its ability to penetrate the tissues effectively and demonstrate a lower resistance profile compared to some other antibiotics.

Ceftriaxone is also frequently combined with macrolides or other agents to cover atypical pathogens such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae, providing robust empirical therapy for patients in the hospital setting.

This combination of effectiveness against a broad range of pathogens and its systemic route of administration makes ceftriaxone a preferred choice for the treatment of inpatient pneumonia.