Macrolides

Question 1

What are the 3 macrolides? route?

Answer 1

azithromycin (PO and IV), clarithromycin (PO only), erythromycin (rarely used)

Question 2

Provide a summary of Macrolide coverage. Reliable for what major groups/organisms?

Answer 2

Reliable: Atypicals, oral Anaerobes, M. Cat, B. pertussis, chlamydia.

Not reliable: gram positives (staph aureus, strep, H. infl)- do not use empirically.

Question 3

Describe the gram positive coverage for macrolides? staph, strep pn, GBS and GAS?

Answer 3

• staph aureus- not reliable
• strep pn. - don’t use empirically (lots resistance)
• GBS - not reliable
• GAS - not reliable

Question 4

When would you consider macrolides fro strep?

Answer 4

reserve only if failed other first line agents due to high rates resistance.

Question 5

describes its anaerobic coverage? (oral and gut anaerobes)

Answer 5

Oral Anaerobes- EXCELLENT
gut anaerobes - NOT RELIABLE

Question 6

describe its Atypical coverage?

Answer 6

EXCELLENT (azithomycin and doxy great for ATYPICALS) - think AZithro for ATYpical.

Question 7

What are 3 other gram negatives do macrolides reliably cover?

Answer 7

• Moraxella cat, Bordetella pertussis, chlamydia trachomatis.

Question 8

How is macrolide coverage for H. infl?

Answer 8

**POOR (don’t use empirically)

Question 9

What is the best macrolide for H. pylori?

Answer 9

CLARITHRO (thinK: CLARITHRO CLears the bowels).