Pavol Jarčuška, Pavol Kristian
New macrcrolide antibiotics azithromycin and clarithromycin are effective against extracellular and intracellular bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, chlamydiae, mycoplasmas, and and some gramnegative pathogens, such as H.influenzae. They can be used in the treatment of respiratory tract infections, mainly lower respiratory tract infections. New macrolides are effective in the treatment of chlamydial genitourinary infections (mainly azithromycin), in the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections, lyme borreliosis, infections caused by H.pylori (mainly clarithromycin), in the treatment of gastrointestinal infections, infections due to atypical mycobacteria and zoonoses. New hopeful indication in the future is secondary prevention of infections due to P.aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis. Macrolides are considered safe antibiotics, treatment with new macrolides is associated with excellent compliance.