Effects of Macrolides and Ketolides on Mycobacterial Infections

Title: Effects of Macrolides and Ketolides on Mycobacterial Infections

Volume: 10 Issue: 26

Author(s): Luiz E. Bermudez and Yoshitaka Yamazaki

Affiliation:

Keywords: macrolides, clarithromycin, azithromycin, roxithromycin

Abstract: New macrolides, such as clarithromycin and azithromycin, are active agents to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). Both clarithromycin and azithromycin are well-known for the ability to improve the prognosis of AIDS patients with disseminated MAC infection. However, the administration of monotherapy with a macrolide is usually associated with the emergence of drug resistance after a few months of use. Therefore, the recommended treatment for MAC infection involved the use of at least two antibiotics, which includes a macrolide in combination with rifabutin, moxifloxacin and / or ethambutol. When used as prophylactic therapy in AIDS patients, azithromycin is more convenient (1200 mg, once a week) than clarithromycin (500 mg, twice a day). Ketolides are a semi-synthetic derivative of erythromycin A, which differs from erythromycin A by substitution of a 3- keto group for L-cladinose. Telithromycin has a carbamate group linked to an imidazolium and pyridium nucleus at C11- C12. In mice model, both telithromycin and ABT-733 were active in vivo against MAC.

Cite this article as:

Bermudez E. Luiz and Yamazaki Yoshitaka, Effects of Macrolides and Ketolides on Mycobacterial Infections, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2004; 10 (26) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612043383241