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Azithromycin is effective against susceptible bacteria causing infections of the middle ear, tonsillitis, throat infections, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia and sinuses. It is also effective against certain sexually transmitted infectious diseases, such as nongonococcal urethritis and cervicitis. Unlike erythromycin and clarithromycin, azithromycin is generally considered free of interactions with most other medicines. It is recommended that azithromycin not be taken at the same time as aluminum- or magnesium- based antacids, such as Mylanta or Maalox because antacids will bind the azithromycin and prevent it from being absorbed from the intestine.
Antibiotics : Antibiotics are defined as chemical substances produced by living organisms, generally a microorganism, that is harmful to other microorganisms. These compounds are formed naturally by fungi and bacteria, and are then released into the soil as part of nature's production chain.
br> It is important to remember that Antibiotics do not have any effect against viruses, which cause a large proportion of Upper Respiratory Tract infections in the US and western countries. In addition, many bacteria can develop mutations over a period of months or years; these mutations often make the bacteria resistant to the effects of Antibiotics. Acquired Antibiotic resistance is becoming a significant healthcare problem in the US and elsewhere. For example, a bacterium (Enteroccci) that has previously been sensitive only to the antibiotic Vancomycin has recently been shown to be developing resistant strains.
br> While development of newer antibiotics is underway, this takes time and is not easy. For now, the judicious use of these important medications remains the best way to limit the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In other words, physicians and patients should use these only when it is likely that they will be of value. Antibiotics have no role in the treatment of colds, the flu, etc., unless these infections are complicated by bacterial infection.
Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically related to erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin). It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others. It is unusual in that it stays in the body for quite a while, allowing for once a day dosing and for shorter treatment courses for most infections. Azithromycin, like all macrolide antibiotics, prevents bacteria from growing by interfering with their ability to make proteins. Due to the differences in the way proteins are made in bacteria and humans, the macrolide antibiotics do not interfere with humans' ability to make proteins.
Effects of Antibiotics over an Extended Period - A Necessary Evil : Inappropriately used antibiotics will do nothing except place the patient at an unnecessary risk for potential side effects. In addition, too much use of an antibiotic can cause bacteria to become increasingly antibiotic resistant. Consequently, the resistant bacteria will not respond to the antibiotic in the future when this therapy may truly be needed. Thus, antibiotics should be used sparingly and with caution in all situations. If a physician tells a person that an antibiotic is unlikely to be helpful, it is in that person's best interest to not take the antibiotic.
However, there are clearly situations where antibiotics are necessary to treat bacterial infections, such as of the lung (pneumonia), skin, or urinary tract. In these settings, treatment should be initiated at the recommendation of a physician and taken for a fixed duration of time (rarely more than 7-10 days). If antibiotics are used with care, most individuals will not develop resistant bacteria and therapy should be highly effective.
Furthermore, there are select situations, including certain severe infections, where therapy must be given for prolonged periods of time. In these cases, it is clear that the risk of not treating the infection outweighs the potential for developing side effects and bacterial resistance. In very few situations, however, is antibiotic therapy used for months or years.
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