Empiric therapy for community-acquired pneumonia in a previously healthy adult with no comorbidities is:

• A. Amoxicillin
• B. Azithromycin
• C. Levofloxacin
• D. Cefdinir

Answer: (A)

When choosing empiric therapy for outpatient CAP in a previously healthy adult, the aim is to cover the most likely pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae, with a narrow, effective, and well-tolerated oral antibiotic. Amoxicillin fits this goal well because it has strong pneumococcal activity, good oral bioavailability, and a favorable safety and cost profile, making it a solid first-line option for a patient with no comorbidities or risk factors. While azithromycin also covers atypical pathogens and pneumococcus, rising macrolide resistance among pneumococci and the preference to avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum therapy in healthy individuals push clinicians toward amoxicillin as the better initial choice. Levofloxacin offers broad coverage including atypicals but carries more potential adverse effects and is usually reserved for patients with comorbidities, treatment failures, or intolerance to first-line therapy. Cefdinir is not as reliably focused on the pneumococcus as amoxicillin and is thus not preferred as monotherapy in this simple, healthy outpatient scenario.