PHARMACOKINETICS OF AZITHROMYCIN IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS - COMPARISON WITH OTHER AGENTS USED FOR TREATING OTITIS-MEDIA AND STREPTOCOCCAL PHARYNGITIS

Acute otitis media and streptococcal pharyngtis are clinically significant infections among pediatric patients, The pharmacokinetic characteristics of amoxicillin and penicillin V, the antibiotics most commonly used to treat acute otitis media and streptococcal pharyngitis, respectively, necessitate multiple daily doses and 10-day treatment regimens, Other agents provide efficacy at least equivalent to that of amoxicillin and penicillin V and have pharmacokinetics that permit more convenient dosing regimens, This review summarizes the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the azalide antibiotic azithromycin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, clarithromycin, cefixime and cefaclor, Although most of these agents offer one or more advantages over amoxicillin and/or penicillin V, the unique pharmacokinetic properties of azithromycin permit a simple once daily, ii-day dosing regimen for pediatric patients with either acute otitis media or streptococcal pharyngitis.