E-Mycin

What it is used for

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta-haemolytic Streptococcus). Upper and lower respiratory tract, skin and skin structure infections of mild to moderate severity. When oral medication is given, patient must comply with the prescribed regimen. Therapeutic dose should be administered for at least 10 days. Alpha haemolytic Streptococci (viridans group). No controlled clinical efficacy trials have been conducted, however oral erythromycin has been suggested by the American Heart Association and the American Dental Association for use in bacterial endocarditis prophylaxis prior to dental/surgical procedures of the upper respiratory tract in penicillin-hypersensitive patients with a history of rheumatic, congenital or other acquired valvular heart disease. Erythromycin is unsuitable prior to genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract surgery. Staphylococcus aureus. Acute infections of skin and skin structure of mild to moderate severity. Bacterial resistance may emerge during treatment, hence cultures and sensitivity tests should be performed. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Diplococcus pneumoniae). Upper (e.g. otitis media, pharyngitis) and lower respiratory tract infections (e.g. pneumonia) of mild to moderate degree. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Eaton agent, PPLO). For respiratory infections due to this organism. Haemophilus influenzae. For upper respiratory tract infections of mild to moderate severity. Not all strains are susceptible at the erythromycin concentrations normally achieved. Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. These organisms are sensitive to erythromycin; clinical studies have demonstrated erythromycin’s efficacy in nongonococcal urethritis due to these organisms. A minimum of 10 days therapy is required. Chlamydia trachomatis infection (excluding nongonococcal urethritis). Erythromycin has shown to be effective in treating trachoma or inclusion body conjunctivitis, acute inclusion conjunctivitis of the newborn (inclusion blennorrhoea) and pneumonia in infants caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Treponema pallidum. Erythromycin is an alternative drug in treating primary syphilis in patients allergic to penicillins. Spinal fluid examinations should be done before treatment and as part of follow-up post therapy. Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Erythromycin lactobionate for injection in conjunction with oral erythromycin ethylsuccinate, as an alternative treatment for acute uncomplicated gonorrhoea in female patients with penicillin hypersensitivity. Before treatment, patients who are suspected of also having syphilis should be evaluated including a microscopic examination for T. pallidum (by immunofluorescence or darkfield) before receiving erythromycin, and monthly serologic tests should be performed for a minimum of 4 months. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. minutissimum and C. (Propionibacterium) acnes. As an adjunct to diphtheria antitoxin, to prevent establishment of carriers, and to eradicate the organism in carriers; in the treatment of erythrasma; adjunctive therapy of moderate to severe acne. Bordetella pertussis. For early elimination of the causative organism from the nasopharynx. Therapeutic doses should be continued for at least 10 days. The clinical course of the disease is not altered. Clostridium tetani. In vitro, Clostridium tetani is sensitive to erythromycin. Erythromycin may be used prophylatically in penicillin-hypersensitive persons for 5 days. As the value of antibiotic prophylaxis in tetanus is not unequivocally established, wounds should be regularly examined. Legionnaires’ disease. Although no controlled clinical efficacy studies have been conducted, in vitro and limited preliminary clinical data suggest that erythromycin may be effective in treating Legionnaires’ disease. Campylobacter fetus (subspecies) jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes. Infections due to this organism when antibiotic therapy is indicated.