Home > Encyclopedia of Children's Health > Erythromycins

Definition

Erythromycins, also called macrolides, are a group of antibiotics, medicines that kill bacteria or prevent their growth.

Description

The antibiotics in this group are:

• azithromycin (Zithromax)
• clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• clindamycin (Cleocin)
• erythromycin (EES, Pediazole)
• lincomycin (Lincocin)

These drugs are chemically related and have similar uses, but because they are distributed differently in the body, they may be used for different purposes. There are other, older drugs in this group, but they are no longer in general use.

General use

Erythromycin is similar...