Treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is usually empiric, with selected antibiotic regimens directed against some of the most common causative pathogens. Recommended empiric regimens are listed in Table 2; recommended antibiotic dosages for treatment of CAP are listed in Tables 3 and 4. Joint guidelines for treatment of CAP by the American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) were updated in 2019.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is prevalent in 0.5% of adults in the US; it is about 2.5 times more common in women than in men. Guidelines for treatment of RA from the American College of Rheumatology were recently updated. The goal of treatment is to minimize disease activity and prevent irreversible joint damage.

Anticoagulants are the drugs of choice for treatment and prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), collectively referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE). US guidelines for treatment of VTE were updated in 2020 and 2021.

Most respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses. Bacterial respiratory tract infections are usually treated empirically with antibiotic therapy that targets the most probable causative pathogens. Recommended antibiotic regimens for outpatient treatment of some common respiratory tract infections are listed in Table 1 for adults and Table 2 for children.

View the Comparison Table: Some Nonopioid Analgesics for Pain

This article includes recommendations for management of most sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV and viral hepatitis. Some of the indications and dosages recommended here have not been approved by the FDA (see Table 1).

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Gout

The FDA has approved Trudhesa (Impel Neuropharma), a new dihydroergotamine nasal spray product, for acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. Another dihydroergotamine nasal spray (Migranal, and generics) has been available for many years for the same indication.

View the Comparison Table: H2-Receptor Antagonists and PPIs

The FDA has approved suzetrigine (Journavx – Vertex), a selective sodium channel blocker, for oral treatment of moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Suzetrigine is the first sodium channel blocker to be approved in the US for this indication and the first oral nonopioid drug to be approved for treatment of pain in over 25 years.