BACTERIOSTATIC NATURE OF ERYTHROMYCIN

ABSTRACT

Erythromycin is antibiotics

produced from a strain ofStreptomyces erythreus

(later changed to "Saccharopolyspora

erythraea") which belongs to the group of macrolides which tends to

inhibit the growth/development of bacteria. It sometimes exhibits bactericidal

characteristics when administered in high concentration. It carries out its

bacteriostatic actions by binding to the 23s RNA component of the 50s ribosome

of the bacteria, thereby interfering with the assembly of the 50s subunits of

the bacteria cell. Erythromycin is mostly administered orally because it comes

mostly in capsules, oral suspensions and tablets but can be given intravenously

through injection. It is used in the treatment of infection caused by

gram-positive cocci eg Streptococcus

pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Entamoeba histolytica and some others. Erythromycin

leads to complications in the body when used prolongly; such adverse effects

may include gastrointestinal disturbances ( eg vomiting, nausea, diarrhea,

abdominal pain) , hepatotoxicity in mostly pregnant women and pyloric stenosis

in young infants.

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