Antibiotics are the treatment of choice for<unk> , with ventilation (oxygen supplement) as supportive therapy. The antibiotic choice depends on the nature of the pneumonia, the microorganisms most commonly causing pneumonia in the geographical region, and the immune status and underlying health of the individual. In the United Kingdom, amoxicillin is used as first-line therapy in the vast majority of patients acquiring pneumonia in the community, sometimes with added clarithromycin. In North America, where the "atypical" forms of community-acquired pneumonia are becoming more common, clarithromycin, azithromycin, or fluoroquinolones as single therapy have displaced the amoxicillin as first-line therapy. Local patterns of antibiotic resistance always need to be considered when initiating pharmacotherapy. In hospitalized individuals or those with immune deficiencies, local guidelines determine the selection of antibiotics. Gram-positive organisms Streptococcus pneumoniae — amoxicillin (or erythromycin in patients allergic to penicillin); cefuroxime and erythromycin in severe cases. Staphylococcus aureus — flucloxacillin (to counteract the organism's β-lactamase). Gram-negative organisms *Haemophilus influenzae — doxycycline; second generation cephalosporins such as cefaclor *Klebsiella pneumoniae *Escherichia coli *Pseudomonas aeruginosa — ciprofloxacin *Moraxella catarrhalis Atypical organisms *Chlamydophila pneumoniae — doxycycline *Chlamydophila psittaci — erythromycin *Mycoplasma pneumoniae — erythromycin *Coxiella burnetti — doxycycline *Legionella pneumophila — erythromycin, with rifampicin sometimes added. People who have difficulty breathing due to pneumonia may require extra oxygen. An extremely sick individual may require artificial ventilation and intensive care as life-saving measures while his or her immune system fights off the infectious cause with the help of antibiotics and other drugs.
Bacterial pneumonia
Viral pneumonia
Fungal pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia
Dust pneumonia
Community-acquired pneumonia
Aspiration pneumonia
Pneumococcal pneumonia