Fluoroquinolones are highly effective in treating community-acquired pneumonia compared with β-lactams and marolides and result in fewer adverse outcomes, found a meta-analysis conducted by a team of researchers from the Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences in Greece and Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg1269.pdf. These antibiotics are also effective in treating severe forms of pneumonia that require hospitalization.

"Fluoroquinolones may be considered for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, particularly for the more severe forms as well as for patients who require admission to hospital and initial intravenous treatment," write Dr. Matthew Falagas and coauthors.

In a related commentary, Dr. Donald Lowe outlines treatment options for community-acquired pneumonia based on recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic society http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg1245.pdf.