What is erythromycin and what is it for?

What is erythromycin?

Erythromycinis an antibiotic obtained in principle naturally, from fermentation in large reactors. It is abacteriostatic agent, that is, it does not kill the bacteria but prevents its development until the bacterium dies of old age.

Its active ingredient iserythromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat mainly infections caused by some types of bacteria such as Chlamydia,Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, group S. viridans, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Bordetella pertussisamong others.

This drug belongs to the family ofmacrolide antibiotics, similar to others such asazithromycin or clarithromycin, whose mechanism of actioninterferes with protein synthesisin bacterial ribosomes, preventing their reproduction. (1)

On the other hand, erythromycin is available in the form of500 mg tablets, oral suspension of 250 mg / 5 mL andampoulesof 1 gr.

Important: Due to the variety of pathogenic microorganisms it covers and the infections it treats, it is recommended thatthis medicine be prescribed by a medical professionalto avoid the risk of health complications. (2)

What is erythromycin for?

As mentioned above, erythromycinis a drug for antibiotic use, indicated for the treatment of the following infections:

1. Respiratory and ear infections

Erythromycin is indicated to treatsomerespiratory conditionssuch as bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, legionnaires’ disease, pertussis, and diphtheria as an alternative in cases wherethe patient is sensitive to penicillin.

You should know: A scientific articledescribes the use of erythromycinfor different respiratory tract infections. (3)

As for middle ear infections such as otitis media, erythromycinmust be accompanied by another drugto increase its effectiveness againstH. influenzae, one of the bacteria that causes this pathology. (4)

2. Skin and eye infections

Erythromycin is also indicated totreat mild to moderate skin and soft tissue infectionssuch as acne vulgaris, in concentrations higher than recommended to prevent resistance. (5)

To highlight: In the case of eye infections, some scientific articlesdescribe that the use of erythromycinhas a potent antibacterial activity on most Gram-positive cocci, many anaerobic bacteria and someGram-positive bacilli. (6)

3. Intestinal, urinary and gynecological infections

Infections in the digestive tract, urinary tract and gynecological tract arecausedby a wide variety of microorganismsthat may be sensitive to erythromycin activity.

Note: An article published by the “Journal of Gastroenterology of Peru”, proposes erythromycin inthe treatment of invasive intestinal amebiasiswhen metronidazole is contraindicated. (7)

4. Sexually transmitted diseases

The presence of bacteria such asChlamydia trachomatisas well asTrichomona vaginalis, can cause gynecological infections. In fact, a scientific articledescribes the use of erythromycin for the treatment ofchlamydia infections. (8)

To highlight: This medicationmay treat other infectionssuch as rheumatic fever and endocarditis.

Erythromycin Side Effects

Treatment with erythromycin may cause the followingadverse reactions in certain patients:

• Allergic reactions from contact with any component of erythromycin.
• Cases of pylorus stenosis have been reported in neonates (thickening of the opening between the stomach and small intestine) after the use of this drug.
• It may reduce theophylline clearance in some patients.
• It can cause the possible appearance of some gastrointestinal disorders such as nausea, vomiting, gas and diarrhea.

You should know: If during treatment with this drug you notice the appearance of any of these symptoms or another not included in this list, discontinue its use and consult your doctor.

Contraindications of erythromycin

The use of this drugis contraindicatedin the following cases:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the components of erythromycin.
• In patients with renal insufficiency, the respective controls should be carried out.
• The use of this drug may be cross-sensitive with other macrolides (antibiotics to treat infections).

Important: You shouldreview your doctor’s medical history before starting erythromycin therapy.

Key Findings

• Erythromycin is abroad-spectrum antibioticto treat infections in the body caused by bacteria.
• Its active ingredient is erythromycin, a chemical compound belonging tothe macrolide familyand which interferes with bacterial reproduction.
• This medication is used to treatrespiratory, skin, urogenital tract, and digestive tract infections.
• This drug is of delicate use and should beprescribed by a specialist doctor.