Antibacterial drug resistance: implications for the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia

This article challenges the assertion that current levels of antibacterial drug resistance should influence treatment decisions for patients who have community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The article will discuss the following topics related to patients who have CAP: (1) the relevant bacteriologic and clinical outcomes that should be investigated to inform empirical treatment, (2) the study design options for studying the impact of antibacterial drug resistance on bacteriologic and clinical outcomes, and (3) the evidence that antibacterial drug resistance influences bacteriologic and clinical outcomes.