Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (158 page)

erythromycin

(e-rith′roe-mye′sin)

Ilotycin, Romycin

Func. class.:
Ophthalmic anti-infective

Chem. class.:
Macrolide

ACTION:

Inhibits protein synthesis, thereby decreasing bacterial replication

USES:

Conjunctivitis, eye infections, prevention of ophthalmic neonatorum

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity to this product or macrolides

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Bacterial conjunctivitis

• Adult/adolescent/child:
Apply 1 cm of ointment directly to the eye up to 6 times a day ×7–10 days depending on severity of infection

Prevention of ophthalmic neonatorum

Neonate:
Ointment
Apply 1 cm ribbon to lower conjunctival sac of each eye once after birth

Administer:
Ophthalmic route

• 
Apply ribbon of ointment directly to the eye; for ophthalmic use only

SIDE EFFECTS

EENT:
Hypersensitivity, irritation, redness

PHARMACOKINETICS

Unknown

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Allergic reaction:
Assess for hypersensitivity, discontinue product

Evaluate:

• 
Decreased ophthalmic infection

Teach patient/family:
Ophthalmic route:

• 
Apply ribbon of ointment directly to the eye; for ophthalmic use only

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

erythromycin base (Rx)

(eh-rith-roh-my′sin)

Apo-Erythro
, Ery-Tab, Novo-Rythro Encap
, PCE

erythromycin
ethylsuccinate (Rx)

Apo-Erythro-Es
, E.E.S., Ery Ped, Novo-Rythro

erythromycin
lactobionate (Rx)

Erythrocin

erythromycin stearate (Rx)

Apo-Erythro-S
, Erythrocin, My-E, Novo-Rythro

Func. class.:
Antiinfective

Chem. class.:
Macrolide

Do not confuse:
erythromycin
/azithromycin

ACTION:

Binds to 50S ribosomal subunits of susceptible bacteria and suppresses protein synthesis

USES:

Infections caused by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae;
mild to moderate respiratory tract, skin, soft-tissue infections caused by
Bordetella pertussis, Borrelia burgdorferi, Chlamydia trachomatis; Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Haemophilus influenzae
(when used with sulfonamides);
Legionella pneumophila
, Legionnaire’s disease,
Listeria monocytogenes; Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae
, syphilis:
Treponema pallidum; Staphylococcus
sp.

Unlabeled uses:
Bartonellosis, burn wound infection, chancroid, cholera, diabetic gastroparesis, endocarditis, prophylaxis, gastroenteritis, granuloma inguinale, Lyme disease, tetanus

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, preexisting hepatic disease (estolate)

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding, geriatric patients, hepatic disease, GI disease, QT prolongation, seizure disorder, myasthenia gravis

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Acne vulgaris

• Adult:
PO
250 mg qid

Mild to moderately severe upper respiratory tract infections (otitis media, sinusitis) or lower respiratory tract infections (pneumonia, bronchitis) caused by susceptible organisms

• Adult:
PO
250–500 mg (of base, estolate, or stearate) every 6 hr or 400–800 mg (ethylsuccinate) every 6 hr;
IV
15-20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 4–6 hr, max 4 g/day

• Adolescent/child/infant:
PO
20–50 mg/kg/day divided every 6 hr, max adult doses;
IV
15–20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 4–6 hr, or as a continuous inf, max dose 4 g/day

• Neonate
>
7 days,

1200 g:
PO
30 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 8 hr

• Neonates
>
7 days,
<
1200 g:
PO
20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hr

• Neonates

7 days:
PO
20 mg/kg/day in divided doses every 12 hr

Pneumonia caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Infant/neonate:
PO
CDC recommends 50 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses × 14 days (erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate)

Mycoplasma infection such as
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
pneumonia

• Adult:
PO
250–500 mg tid

• Adult/adolescent/child/infant:
IV
15–20 mg/kg/day, given in divided doses every 4–6 hr, or as a continuous inf, max dose 4 g/day; replace by oral dosage as soon as possible

Legionnaire’s disease (caused by
Legionella pneumophila
)

• Adult:
PO/IV
0.5–1 g every 6 hr × 21 days

Treatment of group A
β
-hemolytic streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis (primary rheumatic fever prophylaxis)

• Adult:
PO
250–500 mg (base, estolate, or stearate) every 6 hr or 400–800 mg (ethylsuccinate) every 6 hr × 10 days

• Adolescent/child/infant:
PO
20–50 mg/kg/day, divided every 6 hr × 10 days, max adult dose

Secondary prevention of rheumatic fever (prevention of recurrent attacks of rheumatic fever)

• Adult/adolescent/child:
PO
250 mg bid in patients allergic to penicillin and sulfADIAZINE for 10 yr or age 40 whichever is longer, secondary prophylaxis (American Heart Association)

Listeriosis

• Adult:
PO
250–500 mg (base, estolate or stearate) every 6 hr or 400–800 mg (ethylsuccinate) every 6 hr

• Adolescent/child/infant:
PO
20–50 mg/kg/day, divided every 6 hr, max adult doses

Cervicitis caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Adult/adolescent:
PO
CDC recommends erythromycin base 500 mg qid or erythromycin ethylsuccinate 800 mg qid × 7 days as alternatives to first-line agents doxycycline or azithromycin

• Pregnant females:
PO
As alternatives to first-line agents azithromycin or amoxicillin, CDC recommends base 500 mg qid × 7 days, base 250 mg qid × 14 days, ethylsuccinate 800 mg qid × 7 days, ethylsuccinate 400 mg qid × 14 days

• Child

45 kg:
PO
CDC recommends base or ethylsuccinate 50 mg/kg/day in 4 doses × 14 days

Proctitis caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Adult/adolescent:
PO
(base) 500 mg qid

Chlamydial conjunctivitis caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis
including trachoma and inclusion conjunctivitis

• Pregnant/lactating woman/child
<
8 yr:
PO
250–500 mg qid × 10–14 days

Infant pneumonia caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Infant/neonate:
PO
(base or ethylsuccinate) CDC recommends 50 mg/kg/day 4 divided doses × 14 days

Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis
or
Ureaplasma urealyticum

• Adult/adolescent:
PO
CDC recommends 500 mg (base) qid or 800 mg (ethylsuccinate) qid × 7 days as alternatives to first-line agents doxycycline or azithromycin

• Pregnant female:
PO
CDC recommends base 500 mg qid × 7 days

• Child
<
45 kg:
PO
CDC recommends base 50 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses × 10–14 days, second course of therapy may be required

Ophthalmia neonatorum caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Neonate:
PO
(erythromycin base or ethylsuccinate) CDC recommends 50 mg/kg/day in qid × 14 days, may repeat if condition returns

Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by
Chlamydia trachomatis

• Adult:
PO
(base) CDC recommends 500 mg qid × 21 days as an alternative to doxycycline

Adjunctive treatment of diphtheria to prevent establishment of carrier state and to eradicate
Corynebacterium diphtheriae
in carriers

• Adult:
PO
500 mg every 6 hr × 10 days

Intestinal amebiasis (unable to take metroNIDAZOLE)

• Adult:
PO
250 mg every 6 hr × 10–14 days

• Adolescent/child:
PO
30–50 mg/kg/day, divided every 6 hr × 10–14 days, max adult dose

Acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) caused by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae

• Adult:
IV
500 mg (lactobionate) every 6 hr × 3 days, then PO 250 mg (base, estolate, stearate) or
PO
400 mg (ethylsuccinate) every 6 hr × 7 days

Pertussis (whooping cough) caused by
Bordetella pertussis
or for postexposure pertussis prophylaxis:

• Adult:
PO
500 mg qid (2 g total) × 14 days

• Adolescent/child/infant:
PO
40–50 mg/kg/day (max 2 g/day) in 4 divided doses × 14 days

Primary or secondary syphilis (caused by
Treponema pallidum
) in penicillin-allergic nonpregnant patients

• Adult:
PO
(CDC) 500 mg qid × 14 days as an alternative therapy

Surgical infection prophylaxis as a bowel preparation in combination with neomycin

• Adult:
It is generally recommended that if surgery is scheduled for 8 am, 1 g of erythromycin PO with neomycin sulfate PO should be given at 1 pm, 2 pm, and 11 pm on the day before surgery

Available forms:
Base:
enteric-coated tabs 250, 333, 500 mg; film-coated tabs 250, 500 mg; enteric-coated caps 250, 333 mg;
stearate:
film-coated tabs 250 mg;
ethylsuccinate:
granules for oral susp 200, 400 mg/5 ml; powder for inj 500 mg, 1 g (lactobionate), 1 g (as gluceptate)

Administer:

• 
Do not break, crush, or chew time rel cap or tab; chew only chewable tabs; enteric-coated tablets may be given with food

• 
Do not give by IM or IV push

• 
Oral product with full glass of water; do not give with fruit juice

• 
Give 1 hr before or 2 hr after meals

• 
Chew tab: crush or chew

IV route

• 
After
reconstituting
500 mg or less/10 ml sterile water without preservatives; dilute further in 100-250 ml of 0.9% NaCl, LR, Normosol-R; may be
further diluted
to 1 mg/ml and
given
as cont inf; run 1 g or less/100 ml over 1/2-1 hr; cont inf over 6 hr, may require buffers to neutralize pH if dilution is <250 ml, use inf pump

Lactobionate

Y-site compatibilities:
Acyclovir, alfentanil, amikacin, aminocaproic acid, aminophylline, amiodarone, anidulafungin, atenolol, atosiban, atracurium, atropine, azaTHIOprine, benztropine, bivalirudin, bleomycin, bumetanide, buprenorphine, butorphanol, calcium chloride/gluconate, CARBOplatin, caspofungin, cefotaxime, cefTAZidime, cefTRIAXone, cefuroxime, chlorproMAZINE, cimetidine, CISplatin, cyanocobalamin, cyclophosphamide, cycloSPORINE, cytarabine, DACTINomycin, DAPTOmycin, dexmedetomidine, digoxin, diltiazem, diphenhydrAMINE, DOBUTamine, DOCEtaxel, DOPamine, doxacurium, doxapram, DOXOrubicin, enalaprilat, ePHEDrine, EPINEPHrine, epirubicin, epoetin alfa, eptifibatide, ertapenem, esmolol, etoposide, famotidine, fenoldopam, fentaNYL, fluconazole, fludarabine, fluorouracil, folic acid, foscarnet, gatifloxacin, gemcitabine, gentamicin, glycopyrrolate, granisetron, hydrocortisone, HYDROmorphone, hydrOXYzine, IDArubicin, ifosfamide, imipenem-cilastatin, insulin (regular), irinotecan, isoproterenol, labetalol, levofloxacin, lidocaine, LORazepam, LR, mannitol, mechlorethamine, meperidine, methicillin, methotrexate, methoxamine, methyldopate, methylPREDNISolone, metoclopramide, metroNIDAZOLE, miconazole, midazolam, milrinone, mitoXANtrone, morphine, multiple vitamins injection, mycophenolate, nafcillin, nalbuphine, naloxone, nesiritide, netilmicin, niCARdipine, nitroglycerin, norepinephrine, octreotide, ondansetron, oxacillin, oxaliplatin, oxytocin, PACLitaxel, palonosetron, pamidronate, pancuronium, papaverine, pentamidine, pentazocine, perphenazine, phenylephrine, phytonadione, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, polymyxin B, procainamide, prochlorperazine, promethazine, propranolol, protamine, pyridoxine, quiNIDine, ranitidine, Ringer’s, ritodrine, sodium acetate/bicarbonate, succinylcholine, SUFentanil, tacrolimus, temocillin, teniposide, theophylline, thiamine, thiotepa, tigecycline, tirofiban, TNA, tobramycin, tolazoline, TPN, trimetaphan, urokinase, vancomycin, vasopressin, vecuronium, verapamil, vinCRIStine, vinorelbine, vitamin B complex/C, voriconazole, zidovudine, zoledronic acid

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Seizures

CV:
Dysrhythmias, QT prolongation

EENT:
Hearing loss, tinnitus

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
,
hepatotoxicity,
abdominal pain, stomatitis, heartburn, anorexia,
pseudomembranous colitis

GU:
Vaginitis, moniliasis

INTEG:
Rash, urticaria, pruritus, thrombophlebitis (IV site)

SYST:
Anaphylaxis

PHARMACOKINETICS

Peak 4 hr (base); 1/2-2½ hr (ethylsuccinate); half-life 1-2 hr; metabolized in liver; excreted in bile, feces; protein binding 75%-90%; inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein

INTERACTIONS

 
Serious dysrhythmias—diltiazem, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazodone, pimozide, protease inhibitors, verapamil

Increase:
action, toxicity of alfentanil, ALPRAZolam, bromocriptine, busPIRone, carBAMazepine, cilostazol, clindamycin, cloZAPine, cycloSPORINE, diazepam, digoxin, disopyramide, ergots, felodipine, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, methylPREDNISolone, midazolam,
quiNIDine, rifabutin, sildenafil, tacrolimus, tadalafil, theophylline, triazolam, vardenafil, vinBLAStine, warfarin

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
AST/ALT

Decrease:
folate assay

False increase:
17-OHCS/17-KS

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