Erythromycin can be considered the prototype of macrolide antibiotics. These drugs inhibit the ribosomal protein synthesis in bacteria and thus have a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect. Erythromycin has a similar action spectrum as penicillin and includes in particular many Gram-positive bacteria; staphylococci are often resistant. Among the Gram-negative agents Bordetella pertussis and Legionella pneumophila deserve to be mentioned especially. Like the tetracyclines, erythromycin is also active against bacteria-like organisms (Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Ureaplasma urealyticum).

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