Editing Macrolide (section)

==Uses==
Antibiotic macrolides are used to treat infections caused by [[Gram-positive bacteria]] (e.g., ''[[Streptococcus pneumoniae]]'') and limited [[Gram-negative bacteria]] (e.g., ''[[Bordetella pertussis]]'', ''[[Haemophilus influenzae]]''), and some respiratory tract and soft-tissue infections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emedexpert.com/compare/macrolides.shtml|title=Macrolide Antibiotics Comparison: Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Azithromycin|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> The antimicrobial spectrum of macrolides is slightly wider than that of [[penicillin]], and, therefore, macrolides are a common substitute for patients with a penicillin allergy. Beta-hemolytic [[Streptococcus|streptococci]], [[pneumococci]], [[Staphylococcus|staphylococci]], and [[Enterococcus|enterococci]] are usually susceptible to macrolides. Unlike penicillin, macrolides have been shown to be effective against ''[[Legionella pneumophila]]'', [[Mycoplasma]], [[Mycobacterium]], some [[Rickettsia]], and [[Chlamydia (bacterium)|Chlamydia]].

Macrolides are ''not'' to be used on non[[ruminant]] herbivores, such as horses and rabbits. They rapidly produce a reaction causing fatal digestive disturbance.<ref>{{cite book|title=Antimicrobial Therapy in Veterinary Medicine|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8138-0656-3| edition=4th | veditors = Giguere S, Prescott JF, Baggot JD, Walker RD, Dowling PM }}</ref>  It can be used in horses less than one year old, but care must be taken that other horses (such as a foal's mare) do not come in contact with the macrolide treatment.

Macrolides can be administered in a variety of ways, including tablets, capsules, suspensions, injections and topically.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/search.cfm?labeltype=all&query=macrolide|title=DailyMed|publisher=Food and Drug Administration (US)|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref>