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- Discussion:
    - macrolide type of antibiotic, which binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit of susceptible bacteria;
    - a notable feature of this medication is that zithromax collects in the tissues at higher concentrations than in plasma or serum;
    - mainly indicated for the treatment of aerobic gram-positive organisms (staph aureus), but generally has activity against Chlamydia pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Moraxella catarrhalis;
    - often used to treat early pneumonia;
    - adult dosage:
             - 500 mg PO on day 1, followed by 250 mg PO qd for 4 days (total 1.5 gm);
             - w/ chlamydia, consider a single 1 gm PO dose;
             - capsule preparation should not be taken with food but tablet form can be taken with food;
    - pediatric dosage:
             - acute otitis media or community-acquired pneumonia: 10 mg/kg in a single dose on day 1 (max dose 500 mg) followed by 5 mg/kg on days 2 through 5 (max dosage 250 mg/day)