Guidelines on antimicrobial choice and treatment duration for confirmed infections
| Microorganism | Antimicrobial choice and treatment length* (days) |
| Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus | Cloxacillin (7–10) |
| Methicillin-resistant S. aureus | Vancomycin (7–10) |
| Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp | Cloxacillin/vancomycin (5–7) |
| Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) | Penicillin G (7–10) |
| Group A Streptococcus (S. pyogenes) | Penicillin G (7–10) |
| S. pneumoniae | Penicillin G (7–10) |
| Enterococcus faecalis | Ampicillin—if sensitive, otherwise vancomycin or pip/taz (10–14) |
| E. faecium | Vancomycin (10–14) |
| α-Streptococcus ex. S. anginosus, mitis, intermedius, etc | Penicillin G (7–10) |
| Gram-negative rods ex. Klebsiellae, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Enterobacteriacae, Pseudomonas, Serratia spp, Salmonella, Shigella Non-ESBL-producing gram-negative rods | Based on resistance patterns and infectious disease consultant (10–14) |
| ESBL-producing gram-negative rods | Meropenem/pip/taz—based on resistance patterns and infectious disease consultant (10–14) |
| ESBL carba-producing gram-negative rods | Based on resistance patterns and infectious disease consultant (10–14), combination therapy is required |
| Listeria monocytogenes | Ampicillin as first choice otherwise penicillin G in high dose or meropenem (14–21) |
| Haemophilus influenzae | Ampicillin if sensitive or based on resistance patterns (7–10) |
| Candida albicans/parapsilosis | Liposomal amphotericin B, consult the infectious disease consultant (14–21) |
| Herpes simplex | Aciclovir, contact the infectious disease consultant (14–21) |
| Enterovirus | Consult the infectious disease consultant (10–14) |
| Cytomegalovirus | Ganciclovir intravenously/valganciclvir orally Congenital infection 6 weeks–6 months, symptomatic postnatal infection 2–6 weeks Contact the infectious disease consultant |
| Type of infection | Treatment length (days) |
| Sepsis | See above |
| Necrotising enterocolitis | 10–14, consider longer treatment |
| Skin infection | 5–7, consider transition to oral therapy |
| Urinary tract infection | 10 |
| Septic arthritis | 14–21 |
| Osteomyelitis | 21–28 |
| Meningitis, gram-negative bacteria | 21 |
| Meningitis other | 14–21 |
*For sepsis, unless stated otherwise.
ESBL, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases.