Table 3 The Tarragona strategy

1

Antibiotic therapy should be started immediately

2

Antibiotic choice can be targeted, in some cases, based on direct staining

3

The prescription should be modified in accordance with microbiologic findings

4

Prolonging antibiotic treatment does not prevent recurrence

5

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or 1 week of intubation should receive combination therapy because of the risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

6

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is not anticipated in the absence of antibiotic exposure, whereas methicillin-sensitive S aureus should be strongly suspected in comatose patients

7

Therapy against yeast is not required, even in case of colonization with Candida spp.

8

Vancomycin administration for Gram-positive pneumonias is associated with very poor outcome

9

The specific choice of agent should avoid the regimen to which each patient has previously been exposed

10

Guidelines should be updated regularly and customized in accordance with local patterns