Acute bacterial
sinusitis (ABS), acute exacerbations of
chronic bronchitis (AECB), and community-acquired
pneumonia (CAP) are common conditions and constitute a substantial socioeconomic burden. The
ketolides are a new class of antibacterials with a targeted spectrum of antibacterial activity. In vitro,
telithromycin is active against common bacterial pathogens that cause upper and lower
respiratory tract infections, including some isolates that are resistant to other
antibiotic classes. In 2004,
telithromycin was the first ketolide
antibiotic approved for clinical use by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult outpatients with ABS, AECB, and mild-to-moderate CAP. This review discusses the use of
telithromycin in the treatment of these
infections, providing an overview of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, clinical efficacy, and tolerability-safety, and concludes that
telithromycin is an appropriate option for the treatment of community-acquired ABS, AECB, and mild-to-moderate CAP.