Azithromycin
INDICATIONS
FDA
FDA
Systemic
- Community-acquired pneumonia of mild severity (20%-30% of S. pneumoniae strains resistant to azithromycin but clinical significance unknown)
- FDA-approved for adults and children (6 months and older)
- Pharyngitis (adults and children older than 2 years)
- Acute bacterial sinusitis(adults)
- Acute otitis media (pediatric, 6 months of age and older)
- Acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(adults)
- Treatment and prophylaxis of disseminated M. avium infection (treatment requires co-administration with ethambutol)
- Uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections(adults)
- Urethritis and cervicitis (caused by C. trachomatis)
- Please see the modules for the latest recommendations.
- Genital ulcer disease
- Please see the module for the latest recommendations.
Topical
- Bacterial conjunctivitis
- FDA labeling for coryneform group G (efficacy studied in fewer than 10 infections), Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mitis group, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Note: safety in pediatric patients < 1 year of age is not established.
- FDA labeling for coryneform group G (efficacy studied in fewer than 10 infections), Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mitis group, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
NON-FDA APPROVED USES
NON-FDA APPROVED USES
It is not a comprehensive listing, but azithromycin is commonly employed in the following:
- Babesiosis (in combination with atovaquone)
- Bartonella
- Diarrhea
- Including Campylobacter, traveler’s diarrhea, and Shigella
- Toxoplasmosis (in combination with pyrimethamine)
- Meningococcal meningitis prophylaxis
- Falciparum malaria (in combination with artesunate), uncomplicated disease
- Pertussis
- Anti-inflammatory therapy in cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis
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Last updated: October 10, 2025
Citation
Tsai, Y. Vivian. "Azithromycin." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2025. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540040/7/Azithromycin.
Tsai Y. Azithromycin. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540040/7/Azithromycin. Accessed October 30, 2025.
Tsai, Y. (2025). Azithromycin. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540040/7/Azithromycin
Tsai Y. Azithromycin [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2025. [cited 2025 October 30]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540040/7/Azithromycin.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Azithromycin
ID - 540040
A1 - Tsai,Y. Vivian,Pharm.D.
Y1 - 2025/10/10/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540040/7/Azithromycin
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -

Johns Hopkins ABX Guide

