INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Azithromycin tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections (pneumonia: see
WARNINGS
) caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. As recommended dosages, durations of therapy and applicable patient populations vary among these
infections,
please see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
for specific dosing recommendations.
Adults
Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to Haemophilus
influenzae
, Moraxella
catarrhalis or Streptococcus
pneumoniae
.
Acute bacterial sinusitis due to Haemophilus
influenzae
, Moraxella
catarrhalis or Streptococcus
pneumoniae
.
Community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila
pneumoniae
,
Haemophilus
influenzae
, Mycoplasma
pneumoniae or Streptococcus
pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy.
NOTE: Azithromycin should not be used in patients with pneumonia who are judged to be inappropriate for oral therapy because of moderate to severe illness or risk factors such as any of the following:
patients with cystic fibrosis,
patients with
nosocomially
acquired infections,
patients with known or suspected bacteremia,
patients requiring hospitalization,
elderly or debilitated patients, or
patients
with significant underlying health problems that may compromise their ability to respond to their illness (including immunodeficiency or functional
asplenia
).
Pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus
pyogenes as an alternative to first-line therapy in individuals who cannot use first-line therapy.
NOTE: Penicillin by the intramuscular route is the usual drug of choice in the treatment of Streptococcus
pyogenes infection and the prophylaxis of rheumatic fever. Azithromycin is often effective in the eradication of susceptible strains of Streptococcus
pyogenes from the nasopharynx. Because some strains are resistant to azithromycin, susceptibility tests should be performed when patients are treated with azithromycin. Data establishing efficacy of azithromycin in subsequent prevention of rheumatic fever are not available.
Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections due to Staphylococcus
aureus
, Streptococcus
pyogenes
, or Streptococcus
agalactiae
. Abscesses usually require surgical drainage.
Urethritis and cervicitis due to Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria
gonorrhoeae
.
Genital ulcer disease in men due to Haemophilus
ducreyi (chancroid). Due to the small number of women included in clinical trials, the efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of chancroid in women has not been established.
Azithromycin, at the recommended dose, should not be relied upon to treat syphilis. Antimicrobial agents used in high doses for short periods of time to treat non-gonococcal urethritis may mask or delay the symptoms of incubating syphilis. All patients with sexually-transmitted urethritis or cervicitis should have a serologic test for syphilis and appropriate cultures for gonorrhea performed at the time of diagnosis. Appropriate antimicrobial therapy and follow-up tests for these diseases should be initiated if infection is confirmed.
Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be performed before treatment to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to azithromycin. Therapy with azithromycin may be initiated before results of these tests are known; once the results become available, antimicrobial therapy should be adjusted accordingly.
To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of azithromycin and other antibacterial drugs, azithromycin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.
Pediatric Patients
(See
PRECAUTIONS: Pediatric Use
and
CLINICAL STUDIES IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
).
Acute otitis media caused by Haemophilus
influenzae
, Moraxella
catarrhalis or Streptococcus
pneumoniae
. (For specific dosage recommendation, see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
).
Community-acquired pneumonia due to Chlamydophila
pneumoniae
,
Haemophilus
influenzae
, Mycoplasma
pneumoniae or Streptococcus
pneumoniae in patients appropriate for oral therapy. (For specific dosage recommendation, see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
).
NOTE: Azithromycin should not be used in pediatric patients with pneumonia who are judged to be inappropriate for oral therapy because of moderate to severe illness or risk factors such as any of the following:
patients with cystic fibrosis,
patients with
nosocomially
acquired infections,
patients with known or suspected bacteremia,
patients requiring hospitalization, or
patients
with significant underlying health problems that may compromise their ability to respond to their illness (including immunodeficiency or functional
asplenia
).
Pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus
pyogenes as an alternative to first-line therapy in individuals who cannot use first-line therapy. (For specific dosage recommendation, see
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
).
NOTE: Penicillin by the intramuscular route is the usual drug of choice in the treatment of Streptococcus
pyogenes infection and the prophylaxis of rheumatic fever. Azithromycin is often effective in the eradication of susceptible strains of Streptococcus
pyogenes from the nasopharynx. Because some strains are resistant to azithromycin, susceptibility tests should be performed when patients are treated with azithromycin. Data establishing efficacy of azithromycin in subsequent prevention of rheumatic fever are not available.
Appropriate culture and susceptibility tests should be performed before treatment to determine the causative organism and its susceptibility to azithromycin. Therapy with azithromycin may be initiated before results of these tests are known; once the results become available, antimicrobial therapy should be adjusted accordingly.