Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic useful for the treatment of bacterial infections. It has a role as an antibacterial drug, an environmental contaminant and a xenobiotic.

Azithromycin is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of certain bacterial infections, such as:

  • Various bacterial respiratory diseases, including community-acquired pneumonia, acute sinus and ear infections, acute worsening of chronic bronchitis, and throat and tonsil infections
  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Genital ulcer disease and infections of the urethra and cervix
  • Infections of the skin

Azithromycin is a broad-spectrum macrolide antibiotic with a long half-life and a high degree of tissue penetration. It was initially approved by the FDA in 1991. It is primarily used for the treatment of respiratory, enteric and genitourinary infections and may be used instead of other macrolides for some sexually transmitted and enteric infections.