Communicable E64: Getting micro on macrolides for community-acquired pneumonia

In this episode of Communicable, hosts Emily McDonald and Marc Bonten are joined by Sylvain Lother and Valentijn Schweitzer for a discussion on the use of macrolides in community-acquired pneumonia. Together, they examine the evidence for adding a macrolide to beta-lactam therapy, which patients may benefit from combination treatment, and how available evidence can inform clinical practice.

Resources:

• AMMI Canada, https://ammi.ca/en/home/

Further reading

• Postma DF, et al. Antibiotic Treatment Strategies for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults (CAP-START). NEJM 2015. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1406330
• Qian ET, et al. Cefepime vs Piperacillin-Tazobactam in Adults Hospitalized With Acute Infection: the ACORN Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2023. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2023.20583
• Schweitzer VA, et al. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia in Dutch adults (CAP-PACT): a cross-sectional, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised, non-inferiority, antimicrobial stewardship intervention trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2022. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00255-3
• van Daalen FV, et al. Management of community-acquired pneumonia in adults: Practice Guideline from The Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy and Dutch Association of Chest Physicians. CMI Comms 2026. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2026.105206