<p>Erythromycin is indicated in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible strains of various bacteria.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> The indications for erythromycin have been summarized by body system below:</p><p><strong>Respiratory infections</strong></p><p>Mild to moderate upper respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Haemophilus influenzae (when used concomitantly with appropriate doses of sulfonamides) can be treated with erythromycin.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Mild to moderate lower-respiratory tract infections due to susceptible strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus pyogenes may also be treated. Erythromycin treats listeriosis caused by Listeria monocytogenes may also be treated with erythromycin.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup>
Erythromycin is indicated to treat pertussis (whooping cough) caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is effective in eliminating the causative organism from the nasopharynx of infected individuals, rendering them noninfectious. Clinical studies suggest that erythromycin may aid in the prevention of pertussis infection for individuals who have been exposed to the bacteria.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Respiratory tract infections due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae may also be treated with erythromycin.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Despite the fact that no controlled clinical efficacy studies have been conducted to this date, in vitro and certain preliminary clinical study results indicate that erythromycin may be an effective treatment in Legionnaires’ Disease.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Finally, erythromycin is indicated to treat diphtheria and other infections due to Corynebacterium diphtheriae, as an adjunct to antitoxin, to prevent carrier status and to eradicate the organism in existing carriers.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> In addition to the prevention of diphtheria, erythromycin can be used to prevent rheumatic fever in penicillin intolerant patients.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup></p><p><strong>Skin infections</strong></p><p>Mild to moderate skin or skin structure infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes or Staphylococcus aureus may be treated with erythromycin, however, resistant staphylococcal organisms may emerge.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Erythromycin can also be used to treat erythrasma, an infectious condition caused by Corynebacterium minutissimum.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup></p><p><strong>Gastrointestinal infections</strong></p><p>Intestinal amebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica can be treated with oral erythromycin. Extraenteric amebiasis warrants treatment with other antimicrobial drugs.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup></p><p><strong>Genital infections/STIs</strong></p><p>Erythromycin can be used as an alternative drug in treating acute pelvic inflammatory disease caused by N. gonorrheae in female patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity or intolerance to penicillin.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, can be treated with erythromycin. It serves as an alternative treatment for primary syphilis in patients who have demonstrated penicillin hypersensitivity. Erythromycin can also be used in the primary stage of primary syphilis.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Another approved indication of erythromycin is to treat chlamydial infections that cause conjunctivitis of the newborn, pneumonia of infancy, and urogenital infections occurring in pregnancy. It is indicated as an alternative option to tetracyclines for the treatment of uncomplicated rectal, urethral and endocervical infections in adults caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup> Erythromycin can be used in nongonococcal urethritis can be used when tetracyclines cannot be administered. Finally, erythromycin is indicated to treat nongonococcal urethritis due to Ureaplasma urealyticum.<sup class="text-reference-group"><a class="reference-popover-link" data-content="FDA Approved Drug Products: Ery-Ped (erythromycin ethylsuccinate) granules for oral suspension" href="#reference-L7261">21</a></sup></p>