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See how many days antibiotics are typically discussed for common adult outpatient infections — UTI, strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, Lyme, H. pylori, chlamydia, and more. Returns min–max day ranges and a teaching anchor — not a drug name, dose, or permission to change your prescription. Pair with CURB-65 and CrCl on the medical hub.
Last updated: June 4, 2026
Typical teaching duration window
3–7 days (teaching anchor ≈ 5 days)
Uncomplicated cystitis (non-pregnant adult outpatient)
Summary
Many oral regimens fall between about 3 and 7 total days depending on the chosen agent and local resistance patterns; some agents use shorter evidence-based courses than others.
Clinical teaching pearls
Important limitations
Uncomplicated cystitis
3–7 days (teaching anchor ≈ 5 days)
Outpatient CAP
5–14 days (teaching anchor ≈ 5 days)
Strep pharyngitis
5–10 days (teaching anchor ≈ 10 days)
Full reference table from this calculator’s model. Your prescription may differ.
| Syndrome | Typical total days (teaching) | Min–max |
|---|---|---|
| Uncomplicated cystitis (non-pregnant adult outpatient) | ~5 days | 3–7 days |
| Uncomplicated pyelonephritis managed as outpatient (when appropriate) | ~10 days | 7–14 days |
| Group A streptococcal pharyngitis (when antibiotics are indicated) | ~10 days | 5–10 days |
| Acute otitis media (when antibiotics are chosen) | ~7 days | 5–10 days |
| Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (when antibiotics are justified) | ~5 days | 5–10 days |
| Community-acquired pneumonia, outpatient without severe features | ~5 days | 5–14 days |
| Uncomplicated cellulitis (outpatient, no abscess requiring drainage alone) | ~7 days | 5–14 days |
| Impetigo (non bullous or limited bullous, outpatient) | ~7 days | 5–7 days |
| Traveler's diarrhea presumed bacterial (short-course therapy) | ~3 days | 1–3 days |
| Early localized Lyme disease (single erythema migrans, outpatient) | ~14 days | 10–14 days |
| COPD exacerbation with bacterial bronchitis suspected (outpatient) | ~5 days | 5–7 days |
| Helicobacter pylori eradication (combination “triple” or “quad” style regimens) | ~14 days | 10–14 days |
| Uncomplicated urogenital chlamydia (adult outpatient) | ~7 days | 1–7 days |
Antibiotic duration is one line on a prescription. Indication, diagnosis certainty, allergy, renal/hepatic adjustment, pregnancy, interactions, and culture results can all override a day count. This calculator compares orders of magnitude between syndromes (travelers diarrhea 1–3 days vs early Lyme 10–14 days vs H. pylori combination therapy) — not to titrate real patients.
Not prescribing advice. Do not start, stop, or change antibiotics from this page. Worsening symptoms need urgent in-person care.
For med school, PA, NP, pharmacy, and nursing pharmacology
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