title: Clarithromycin extended-release in community-acquired respiratory tract infections.
abstract: Clarithromycin extended-release (ER) is a second-generation macrolide with bactericidal activity against a broad group of pathogens. It allows for convenient once-daily dosing (2 x 500 mg/day), and has less severe adverse effects than the immediate-release (IR) formulation of the drug, which may result in improved patient compliance. Clarithromycin ER has been approved for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, acute maxillary sinusitis and acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. In comparison to the IR formulation, clarithromycin ER demonstrates prolonged absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for once-daily dosing with improved gastrointestinal tolerability. Various double-blind, randomised clinical trials and group studies have found clarithromycin ER to be an efficacious treatment option, comparable with clarithromycin IR, or its other competitors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231-1001, USA.
authors.forename: Kathy N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Bishai
mesh_terms: D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017291:Clarithromycin