Azithromycin

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of azithromycin tablets USP and other antibacterial drugs, azithromycin tablets USP should be used only to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

Azithromycin tablets USP are a macrolide antibacterial drug indicated for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the specific conditions listed below. Recommended dosages and durations of therapy in adult and pediatric patient populations vary in these indications [see Dosage and Administration (2)].

•Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic bronchitis due to

Haemophilus influenzae

,

Moraxella catarrhalis,

or

Streptococcus pneumoniae

. •Acute bacterial sinusitis due to

Haemophilus influenzae

,

Moraxella catarrhalis.

or

Streptococcus pneumoniae

. •Community-acquired pneumonia due to

Chlamydophila pneumoniae

,

Haemophilus influenzae

,

Mycoplasma pneumoniae,

or

Streptococcus pneumoniae

in patients appropriate for oral therapy. •Pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by

Streptococcus pyogenes

as an alternative to first-line therapy in individuals who cannot use first-line therapy. •Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections due to

Staphylococcus aureus

,

Streptococcus pyogenes

, or

Streptococcus agalactiae

. •Urethritis and cervicitis due to

Chlamydia trachomatis

or

Neisseria gonorrhoeae

. •Genital ulcer disease in men due to

Haemophilus ducreyi

(chancroid). Due to the small number of women included in clinical trials, the efficacy of azithromycin in the treatment of chancroid in women has not been established.

[see Use in Specific Populations (8.4) and Clinical Studies (14.2)]

•Acute otitis media (> 6 months of age) caused by

Haemophilus influenzae

,

Moraxella catarrhalis,

or

Streptococcus pneumoniae

•Community-acquired pneumonia (> 6 months of age) due to

Chlamydophila pneumoniae

,

Haemophilus influenzae

,

Mycoplasma pneumonia

, or

Streptococcus pneumoniae

in patients appropriate for oral therapy. •Pharyngitis/tonsillitis (> 2 years of age) caused by

Streptococcus pyogenes

as an alternative to first-line therapy in individuals who cannot use first-line therapy.

Azithromycin should not be used in patients with pneumonia who are judged to be inappropriate for oral therapy because of moderate to severe illness or risk factors such as any of the following:

•patients with cystic fibrosis, •patients with nosocomial infections, •patients with known or suspected bacteremia, •patients requiring hospitalization, •elderly or debilitated patients, or •patients with significant underlying health problems that may compromise their ability to respond to their illness (including immunodeficiency or functional asplenia).