Amoxicillin provides the best coverage of all oral β-lactams against S. pneumoniae, even majority of penicillin-resistant strains.

Use amoxicillin-clavulanate if:

  • S. aureus predominant on Gram stain
  • recent influenza
  • or if any co-morbid factors:  smoking, malignancy, diabetes, alcoholism, chronic heart, lung, renal or liver failure, chronic corticosteroid use/immunosuppressive therapy, malnutrition, hospitalization in past 3 months, HIV/immunosuppression, asplenia.