Telithromycin: a novel agent for the treatment of community-acquired upper respiratory infections

Mai P. Tran, PharmD, BCPS

The ketolides are a new subclass of macrolides, and telithromycin is the first of these agents to be approved. Modifications to the basic macrolide structure result in enhanced activity against penicillin- and erythromycin-resistant respiratory pathogens. It is therefore an option in the treatment of mild to moderate community-acquired respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and sinusitis. Telithromycin also offers the advantages of once-daily dosing and a shorter course of therapy in certain infections. Comparative clinical trials, although limited and involving only a small number of resistant organisms, showed the equivalence of telithromycin to existing therapies, although telithromycin generally had a higher frequency of mild to moderate gastrointestinal adverse effects. Further clinical and safety data, especially in patients with resistant organisms, are needed.