Zithromax, Zmax (Azithromycin)
Azithromycin is a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic chemically similar to erythromycin and clarithromycin (Biaxin). It acts on a wide variety of bacteria organisms, such as Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and mycobacterium avium, and many others. Its advantage in a prolonged persistence in the body, allowing for once a day dosing and for shorter treatment courses for most infections. Like all macrolide antibiotics, azithromycin averts bacteria from growing by interfering with their ability to produce proteins. Due to distinctions in synthesis of fibers in bacteria and humans, the macrolide antibiotics do not interfere with humans’ production of proteins.