FORMULARY FORUM AZITHROMYCIN: THE FIRSTAZALIDE ANTIBIOTIC

drug interactions, and dosage guidelines of azithromycin, the first azalide antibiotic. DATA SOURCES: Pertinent literature published between 1988 and the present was identified via a MEDLINE search. Of 77 articles retrieved, 37 have been referenced. STUDY SELECTION: Azithromycin is a new agent, and as such, limited data regarding this drug are available in the literature. We evaluated all pharmacokinetic, microbiologic, and basic science articles pertaining to azithromycin, and reviewed the clinical efficacy trials that we believed were of good quality for each indication for which azithromycin has received approval to date. Comparative clinical trials involving large numbers of patients, clinical outcome assessments, and recommendations for azithromycin use are included. DATA SYNTHESIS: Azithromycin is a macrolide derivative and the firs