Macrolide antibiotics: chemical structure, mechanism of action and safety issues

Skryabina A.A.: Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

Nikiforov V.V.: Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

Shakhmardanov M.Z.: Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow

Zastrozhin M.S.: Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Moscow, Russia

Sychev D.A.: Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education

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Summary

The article provides an overview of current publications on the chemical structure, mechanism of action and safety of macrolide antibiotics. We conducted a search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases for the scientific articles published from 2010 to 2021. The following key words were used: macrolides, macrolide antibiotics, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin, mechanism of action, adverse drug reactions, toxicity. Macrolides are broad-spectrum antibiotics used to treat a wide range of both local and systemic infectious diseases. Macrolides are generally safe, although they can induce certain dose-dependent adverse drug reactions.

Key words

Macrolides, antibiotics, mechanism of action, pharmacoepidemiology, safety, adverse drug reactions.