[The safety of macrolide antibiotics: critical analysis]

Abstract

Macrolide antibiotics are a safest group of antimicrobial drugs well tolerated by the patients. They have no hemato-, nephro- or cerebrotoxic action, do not cause chondro- or arthropathies, nor do they affect the photosensitizing system. Also, they are/free of many negative effects characteristic of other groups of antibiotics, such as anaphylactic reactions, severe toxico-allergic syndromes, and diarrhea. Most adverse effects of macrolides described in this review are functional disorders of various organs and systems, they are reversible and disappear after the termination of therapy. The beneficial safety profile of macrolides allows prescribing them for the treatment of various infections in inpatients and outpatients including children, pregnant women, elderly persons, and those suffering concomitant diseases.