Review article

Telithromycin – a new ketolide antibiotic

I. Kuzman

Abstract

Ketolides are a new class of macrolides designed to offer activity for the treatment of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, including those caused by resistant strains. Ketolides have a mechanism of action very similar to erythromycin and other macrolides. Telithromycin is the first member of this new class to be approved for clinical use. This review discusses recent developments of telithromycin with analysis of in vitro and in vivo activities, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodinamics, as well as clinical trials and clinical use. Telithromycin exhibits good activity against gram-positive, gram-negative and atypical respiratory tract pathogens. It has excellent activityagainst penicillin-resistant and macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pharmacokinetics and tissue penetration of telithromycin permit once daily oral administration of an 800 mg dose. It is primarily metabolised in the liver and that elimination is by a combination of biliary and urinary excretion. Clinical trial data have focused on respiratory infections including community-acquired pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sinusitis and streptococcal pharyngitis. Clinical cure rates and bacteriological eradication have been similar to comparators. Telithromycin has similar safety profile to the newer macrolides. Numerous clinical trials support the clinical efficacy of the telithromycin in upper and lower respiratory tract infections caused by tipical and atypical pathogens including strains resistant to beta-lactams and macrolides.

Keywords

telithromycin; ketolides; pharmacodynamisc; pharmacokinetics; respiratory infections

Hrčak ID:

12748

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/12748

Publication date:

17.3.2005.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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