ABSTRACT
Erythromycin is antibiotics
(later changed to "Saccharopolyspora
erythraea") which belongs to the group of macrolides which tends to
inhibit the growth/development of bacteria. It sometimes exhibits bactericidal
characteristics when administered in high concentration. It carries out its
bacteriostatic actions by binding to the 23s RNA component of the 50s ribosome
of the bacteria, thereby interfering with the assembly of the 50s subunits of
the bacteria cell. Erythromycin is mostly administered orally because it comes
mostly in capsules, oral suspensions and tablets but can be given intravenously
through injection. It is used in the treatment of infection caused by
gram-positive cocci eg Streptococcus
pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Entamoeba histolytica and some others. Erythromycin
leads to complications in the body when used prolongly; such adverse effects
may include gastrointestinal disturbances ( eg vomiting, nausea, diarrhea,
abdominal pain) , hepatotoxicity in mostly pregnant women and pyloric stenosis
in young infants.