Paediatric

Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HAP)

Non-severe healthcare-acquired pneumonia (non-severe signs and not at higher risk of resistance)

Review after 48 hours. Treat for 5 days then review.

Take blood cultures and appropriate samples (e.g. BAL or pleural culture) for culture. Review antibiotic choice when results are available.

Preferred

co-amoxiclav po, see dosing table below:

Age

co-amoxiclav oral dose

1 month to 11 months

0.5mL/kg of 125mg/31mg/5mL suspension TDS

1 year to 5 years 

10mLs of 125mg/31mg/5mL suspension TDS

6 years to 11 years 

10mLs of 250mg/62mg/5mL suspension TDS

12 years to 17 years 

One 625mg tablet TDS OR 10mLs of 250mg/62mg/5mL suspension TDS if patient cannot take tablets 

 

Alternative

Other options may be suitable based of microbiology results.

For penicillin allergy (non-severe and severe) OR MRSA positive patients

Under 6 weeks: Discuss with Paediatric ID

6 weeks and over: co-trimoxazole po, see dosing table below

Age

co-trimoxazole oral dose

Weeks to 5 Months

120mg BD

Months to 5 Years

240mg BD

Years to 11 years

480mg BD

12 years to 17 years

960mg BD

 If iv required and 6 weeks and over: co-trimoxazole 18mg/kg (max 960mg) iv BD

 

 

Severe healthcare-acquired pneumonia (severe symptoms or signs of sepsis) or at higher risk of resistance

Other options may be suitable based of microbiology results. Contact Paeds ID for all cases.

Higher risk of resistance includes symptoms or signs starting more than 5 days after hospital admission, relevant comorbidity such as severe lung disease or immunosuppression, recent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, colonisation with multidrug-resistant bacteria, and recent contact with a health or social care setting before current admission

Preferred

piperacillin-tazobactam 90mg/kg (max 4.5g) iv QDS

 

Alternative

Other options may be suitable based of microbiology results.

For penicillin allergy (non-severe and severe) OR MRSA positive patients: 

6 weeks and over: co-trimoxazole 18mg/kg (max 960mg) iv BD

Under 6 weeks: Discuss with Paediatric ID

 

If oral is tolerated:

6 weeks and over: co-trimoxazole po, see dosing table below

Age

co-trimoxazole oral dose

Weeks to 5 Months

120mg BD

Months to 5 Years

240mg BD

Years to 11 years

480mg BD

12 years to 17 years

960mg BD

Under 6 weeks: Discuss with Paediatric ID

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 23 Jan 2026

Author(s): AMST.

Approved By: ASG