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.