Chemical structure of erythromycin.
Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Eryc

Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic which has an antimicrobial spectrum similar to or slightly wider than that of penicillin, and is often used for people who have an allergy to penicillins. For respiratory tract infections, it has better coverage of atypical organisms, including mycoplasma. It is also used to treat outbreaks of chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea. Structurally, this macrocyclic compound contains a 14-membered lactone ring with ten asymmetric centers and two sugars (L-cladinose and D-desoamine), making it a compound very difficult to produce via synthetic methods. more...

Home
Diseases
Medicines
A
B
C
D
E
E-Base
Ecstasy (drug)
Edecrin
Edrophonium
Edrophonium chloride
Efavirenz
Effexor
Eflornithine
Elavil
Eldepryl
Elidel
Eligard
Elitek
Elixomin
Elixophyllin
Ellagic acid
Elmiron
Eloxatin
Elspar
Emtriva
Emylcamate
Enalapril
Enalaprilat
Enalaprilat
Endep
Enflurane
Enoxaparin sodium
Entacapone
Enulose
Epi-pen
Epinephrine
Epirubicin
Epitol
Epivir
Epogen
Eprosartan
Ergocalciferol
Ergoloid Mesylates
Ergotamine
Eryc
Eryped
Erythromycin
Esgic
Eskalith
Esmolol
Estazolam
Estazolam
Estrace
Estraderm
Estradiol
Estradiol
Estradiol valerate
Estring
Estrogel
Estrone
Estrostep
Ethacridine
Ethambutol
Ethchlorvynol
Ethosuximide
Ethotoin
Etiracetam
Etodolac
Etopophos
Etoposide
Etorphine
Evista
Exelon
Exemestane
Hexal Australia
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z

Erythromycin is produced from a strain of the actinomyces Saccaropolyspora erythraea, formerly known as Streptomyces erythraeus.

History

Abelardo Aguilar, a Filipino scientist, sent some soil samples to his employer Eli Lilly in 1949. Eli Lilly’s research team, led by J. M. McGuire, managed to isolate Erythromycin from the metabolic products of a strain of Streptomyces erythreus found in the samples. The product was subsequently launched in 1952 under the brand name Ilosone® (after the Philippine region of Iloilo where it was originally collected from). Erythromycin was formerly also called Ilotycin®. In 1981, Nobel laurate (1965 in chemistry) and Professor of Chemistry at Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) Robert B. Woodward and a large team of researchers reported the first stereocontrolled asymmetric chemical synthesis of Erythromycin A.

Available forms

Erythromycin is available in enteric-coated tablets, oral suspensions, opthalmic solutions, ointments, gels and injections.

Mechanism of action

Erythromycin prevents bacteria from growing, by interfering with their protein synthesis. Erythromycin binds to the subunit 50S of the bacterial ribosome, and thus inhibits the translation of peptides.

Pharmacokinetics

Erythromycin is easily inactivated by gastric acids, therefore all orally administered formulations are given as either enteric coated or as more stable salts or esters. Erythromycin is very rapidly absorbed, and diffused into most tissues and phagocytes. Due to the high concentration in phagocytes, erythromycin is actively transported to the site of infection, where during active phagocytosis, large concentrations of erythromycin are released.

Metabolism

Most of erythromycin is metabolised by demethylation in the liver. Its main elimination route is in the bile, and a small portion in the urine. Erythromycin's half-life is 1.5 hours.

Side-effects

Gastrointestinal intestinal disturbances such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting are fairly common so it tends not to be prescribed as a first-line drug. More serious side-effects, such as reversible deafness are rare. Allergic reactions, while uncommon, may occur, ranging from urticaria to anaphylaxis. Cholestatic jaundice, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are some other rare side effects that may occur.

Erythromycin has been shown to increase the probability of pyloric stenosis in children whose mothers took the drug during the late stages of pregnancy or while nursing.

Contraindications

Earlier case reports on sudden death prompted a study on a large cohort that confirmed a link between erythromycin, ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death in patients also taking drugs that prolong the metabolism of erythromycin (like verapamil or diltiazem) by interfering with CYP3A4 (Ray et al 2004). Hence, erythromycin should not be administered in patients using these drugs, or drugs that also prolong the QT time. Other examples include terfenadine (Seldane, Seldane-D), astemizole (Hismanal), cisapride (Propulsid, withdrawn in many countries for prolonging the QT time) and pimozide (Orap).

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Acumen Solutions Acquires San Francisco-Based Opcentric; Acquisition creates leading Sales Optimization team
From Business Wire, 5/11/05

VIENNA, Va. -- Acumen Solutions, Inc., a leading business and technology consulting firm with offices in Vienna, Virginia and New York City, has announced the acquisition of San Francisco-based Opcentric, a global leader in Sales Optimization consulting.

"The Opcentric team brings with them tremendous experience in sales processes, training, executive metrics & analysis, and CRM adoption. Adding those resources to the Acumen Solutions arsenal will enable us to strengthen our services across the board and specifically enhance our CRM practice," explained Acumen Solutions President and CEO, David Joubran.

Commenting on the announcement, Salesforce.com President Jim Steele stated, "Acumen Solutions has already worked with Opcentric on two of the largest Salesforce.com implementations to date, making them one of our most trusted partners. As they formally combine their forces, they become a key partner that can deploy successfully on a national scale. We look forward to continuing our work with them."

With established offices in the Northeast corridor, Acumen Solutions will now leverage the new west coast locations to expand to a national footprint. Opcentric founder Eryc Branham, former VP of Consulting at Saleforce.com, remarked, "We are extremely excited about the prospect of bringing a more extensive solution set to our customers with the ability to integrate Acumen Solutions' business and IT service offering competencies. Additionally, through Acumen Solutions' vertical industry capabilities in media/communications and financial services, we will be able to take our Sales Optimization services to new markets."

Eryc Branham will manage the new Acumen Solutions San Francisco office and lead Sales Optimization operations on the West Coast.

About Acumen Solutions(R)

Right from the Start(R). Acumen Solutions, Inc., a privately held company based in Vienna, Va., is a leading business and technology consulting firm that uses a focused, results-oriented approach to develop client-specific solutions. Our blend of industry expertise, business insight and technology savvy makes us the premier choice to help organizations gain a competitive advantage. With a focus in communications and media, financial services and government solutions, our clients include members of the Fortune 500 and other emergent industry leaders. For more information, visit www.acumensolutions.com.

About Opcentric

Find Win Book Retain(TM). As the global authority in Sales Optimization, Opcentric builds practical, proven solutions that drive top-line revenue growth and sales efficiencies that help contain costs. We deliver world-class Sales Optimization solutions including training, research, consulting and operations management to customers ranging from Fortune 500 to mid-market leaders. Our world-class staff possesses deep expertise and talent in sales operations, sales management, global sales execution, CRM technology implementation & adoption, channel & alliance strategies, marketing, and services sales & marketing. For more information, please visit our website at www.opcentric.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Business Wire
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group

Return to Eryc
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay