EES

What it is used for

Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus): Upper and lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissue infections of mild to moderate severity. When oral medication is preferred for treatment of the above conditions, penicillin G, V, or erythromycin are alternate drugs of choice. When oral medication is given, the importance of strict adherence by the patient to the prescribed dosage regimen must be stressed. A therapeutic dose should be administered for at least l0 days. Alpha-haemolytic streptococci (viridans group): Although no controlled clinical efficacy trials have been conducted, oral erythromycin has been suggested by the American Heart Association and the American Dental Association for use in a regimen for prophylaxis against bacterial endocarditis in patients hypersensitive to penicillin who have congenital heart disease, or rheumatic or other acquired valvular heart disease when they undergo dental or surgical procedures of the upper respiratory tract. Erythromycin is not suitable prior to genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract surgery. Staphylococcus aureus: Acute infections of skin and soft tissue of mild to moderate severity. Not all strains are sensitive, and cultures and sensitivity tests should be done. Resistant organisms may emerge during treatment. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Diplococcus pneumoniae): Upper respiratory tract infections (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 of this organism are susceptible at the erythromycin concentrations ordinarily achieved. Treponema palladium: Erythromycin is an alternate choice of treatment for primary syphilis in patients allergic to the penicillins. In treatment of primary syphilis, spinal fluid examinations should be done before treatment and as part of follow-up after therapy. Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Erythrocin I.V. (erythromycin lactobionate for injection) in conjunction with erythromycin orally, as an alternative drug in treatment of acute uncomplicated gonorrhoea in female patients with a history of hypersensitivity to penicillin. Before treatment of gonorrhoea, patients who are suspected of also having syphilis should be adequately evaluated including a microscopic examination for T. palladium (by immunofluorescence or darkfield) before receiving erythromycin and monthly serologic tests should be made for a minimum of 4 months. Corynebacterium diphtheriae, C. minutissimum, 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; and as adjunct to therapy of moderate to severe acne. Listeria monocytogenes: Infections due to this organism. Bordetella pertussis: Erythromycin produces early elimination of the causative organism from the nasopharynx although the clinical course of the disease is not altered; therapeutic doses should be continued for at least l0 days. Clostridium tetani: In vitro, Clostridium tetani is sensitive to erythromycin. In persons with hypersensitivity to penicillin, erythromycin may be used in the usually recommended doses for 5 days for prophylaxis. However, 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. Non-gonococcal Urethritis: Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum have been shown to be sensitive to erythromycin and clinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy in urethritis due to these organisms. A minimum of ten days therapy appears to be required. Chlamydia trachomatis infection (excluding Non-gonococcal Urethritis): Erythromycin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of trachoma or inclusion-body conjunctivitis, acute inclusion conjunctivitis of the newborn (inclusion blennorrhoea) and pneumonia in infants caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Campylobacter fetus (subspecies) jejuni: Infections due to this organism when antibiotic therapy is indicated.