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<p><b>The Application</b></p> |
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<p>Numerous clinical trials have confirmed azithromycin's efficacy for many different |
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indications. At present, azithromycin is used in the treatment of upper respiratory |
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tract infections (bacterial pharyngitis/tonsillitis, bacterial sinusitis, bacterial |
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otitis media), lower respiratory tract infections (bacterial bronchitis, acute |
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exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, community acquired pneumonia), sexually |
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transmitted diseases (uncomplicated urethritis, uncomplicated cervicitis), pelvic |
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inflammatory disease, gastric and duodenal infections caused by <i>Helicobacter |
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pylori</i>, skin and soft tissue infections (erysipelas, impetigo, secondary |
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pyoderma, erythema migrans) and prevention of disseminated <i>Mycobacterium |
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avium</i> complex in persons with advanced HIV infection.</p> |
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<p>Azithromycin's advantage is its activity against gram-negative organisms, particularly |
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<i>Haemophilus influenzae</i>, and intracellular and other organisms (<i>Mycoplasma |
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pneumoniae</i>, <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>, <i>Chlamydia trachomatis</i> and |
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<i>Legionella pneumophila</i>). Since azithromycin shows a good activity against |
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the most common pathogens it is used as a choice for empirical therapy.</p> |
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<p><b>The Future</b></p> |
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<p>Clinical investigation into new indications is lead by the <i>in vitro</i> |
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activity of azithromycin on one hand and unmet medical needs on the other. Potential |
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prospects for azithromycin in clinical usage belong to field of infectious diseases |
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and chronic "non-infectious" diseases. Among infectious diseases, azithromycin |
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may have potential uses in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhoea, inclusion |
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conjunctivitis, dental infections, acne, pertussis, prostatitis, trachoma, toxoplasmosis, |
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syphilis, rickettsiosis, leptospirosis and typhoid fever. In field of chronic |
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"non-infectious" diseases, the strongest indication extensively |
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investigated so far is atherosclerosis.</p> |