Infectious Diseases Treatments & Medications

Campylobacter jejuni — Treatment

Fluids and electrolyte replacement; erythromycin for immunocompromised patients.

Cholera — Treatment

Oral fluids for mild/moderate; IV fluids, electrolytes, and tetracyclines, macrolides, or fluoroquinolones for severe cases.

Clostridioides difficile — Treatment

First infection: oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin. Recurrence: vancomycin taper. Further recurrence: fecal microbiota transplant.

E. coli STEC O157:H7 — Treatment

Fluid hydration and supportive care; renal dialysis if HUS develops. Antibiotics are generally withheld.

Salmonellosis — Treatment

Hydration and supportive care; ciprofloxacin for immunocompromised patients.

Shigellosis — Treatment

Supportive care; ciprofloxacin or azithromycin if severe or immunocompromised.

Vibrio spp. — Treatment

GI: hydration (antibiotics if severe). Wound: doxycycline + ceftazidime plus surgical debridement if needed (nectrozing fascilitis)

Pertussis — Treatment

Azithromycin or TMP-SMX.

Diphtheria — Treatment

Hospital admission, droplet isolation, diphtheria antitoxin (via CDC) + penicillin or erythromycin.

Group A Streptococcus — Treatment

Penicillin; macrolides if penicillin-allergic.

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) — Treatment

Secure airway first; treat with ceftriaxone or azithromycin.

Legionella — Treatment

Macrolide (e.g., azithromycin) or fluoroquinolone (e.g., levofloxacin).

Moraxella catarrhalis — Treatment

Amoxicillin-clavulanate, TMP-SMX, or ciprofloxacin.

Streptococcus pneumoniae — Treatment

Beta-lactams; macrolides if allergic.

Actinomycosis — Treatment

Prolonged course of penicillin, doxycycline, or clindamycin.

Clostridium perfringens (Gas Gangrene) — Treatment

Immediate surgical debridement + IV penicillin G + clindamycin.

Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) — Treatment

IV vancomycin and removal of infected device; suppressive antibiotics if device remains.

MRSA — Treatment

Mild/moderate skin: doxycycline, clindamycin, or TMP-SMX. Severe/sepsis: IV vancomycin.

Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) — Treatment

Cephalosporins, TMP-SMX, or doxycycline.

Botulism — Treatment

• Hospitilization

• Antitoxin from health department

• Food-born botulism: leave it alone

• Infantile botulism: human botulism immune globulin (iv antitoxin)

• Wound botulism: surgical debridement or abx (penicillin or clindamycin).

Tetanus — Treatment

Tetanus immune globulin (TIG), Tdap/Td booster, wound care, and supportive ventilation if severe.

Chlamydia — Treatment

Doxycycline.

Gonorrhea — Treatment

Ceftriaxone IM x1 dose + empiric coverage for Chlamydia (doxycycline).

Anthrax — Treatment

Cutaneous: self limiting

Penicillin or a fluoroquinolone (e.g., ciprofloxacin).

• Vaccine available; usually for military personnel

Bartonella (Cat-Scratch Fever) — Treatment

Supportive care; azithromycin for immunocompromised patients.

Brucellosis — Treatment

Doxycycline + rifampin (monitor LFTs).

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) — Treatment

Doxycycline immediately for both adults and children.

Tularemia — Treatment

Ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, or doxycycline.

Yersinia pestis (Plague) — Treatment

Gentamicin + fluoroquinolones for ≥10 days.

Listeria monocytogenes — Treatment

Fluid resuscitation; IV ampicillin for severe/systemic disease.

Neisseria meningitidis — Treatment

IV ceftriaxone.

Rheumatic Fever — Treatment

Supportive care + penicillin or azithromycin; long-term antibiotic prophylaxis if carditis occurs.

Lyme Disease — Treatment

Stage-based antibiotics (doxycycline); Post-exposure prophylaxis: single dose doxycycline 200 mg within 72 hours.

pregnant woman & children: amoxicillin

severe: ceftriaxone

Primary Syphilis — Treatment

Penicillin G benzathine (doxycycline if allergic).

Secondary Syphilis — Treatment

Penicillin G benzathine (doxycycline if allergic).

Latent Syphilis — Treatment

Penicillin G benzathine.

Tertiary Syphilis — Treatment

Penicillin G benzathine.

Neurosyphilis — Treatment

Aqueous crystalline penicillin G IV.

Congenital Syphilis — Treatment

Penicillin G.

Atypical Mycobacterial Disease (NTM) — Treatment

Species-specific multidrug regimen.

MAC (Pulmonary) — Treatment

Macrolide-based regimen: azithromycin + ethambutol + rifampin/rifabutin.

MAC (Skin/Soft Tissue) — Treatment

Macrolide-based multidrug therapy plus surgical drainage/debridement.

MAC (Lymphadenitis) — Treatment

Surgical excision preferred; antibiotics if incomplete excision or immunocompromised.

MAC (Disseminated) — Treatment

Macrolide (azithromycin/clarithromycin) + ethambutol + antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Mycobacterium kansasii — Treatment

Rifampin + ethambutol + isoniazid for ≥1 year.

Active Tuberculosis — Treatment

Intensive phase: 2 months RIPE (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, ethambutol). Continuation phase: 4-7 months INH + RIF.

Latent Tuberculosis — Treatment

Rifampin daily x4 months OR Isoniazid x9 months (with Vitamin B6).

TB Medication Toxicities & Monitoring — Management

Rifampin: monitor LFTs. Ethambutol: monitor vision/color. Isoniazid: monitor LFTs & add B6 for neuropathy.