Respiratory infections are one of the main reasons for visits to general practitioners. The ability to make quick decisions on whether to include antimicrobial treatment in these infections is of key importance. If antibiotic therapy is used, then the choice of appropriate antimicrobial, dose and treatment duration is important. Expert recommendations developed as part of the National Program for Protection of Antibiotics provide guidance for primary care practitioners. The aim of this paper was to discuss the treatment of choice and the management in the case of first-line treatment failure in different communityacquired respiratory tract infections in children and adults. Since a large proportion of these infections are caused by viruses, we remind scores and guidelines developed to facilitate the diagnosis of these cases. If antibiotic therapy is needed, its choice should be based on the current epidemiological situation. Streptococcus pneumoniae is still the most common cause of respiratory tract infections. Therefore, despite pneumococcal resistance to penicillin derivatives, amoxicillin will be an optimal option to fight these pathogens if used at appropriately high doses. Amoxicillin-clavulanate or cephalosporins are generally used as second-line treatment, while macrolides are recommended in the case of immediate hypersensitivity to beta-lactams or suspected atypical aetiology of infection.