Activity of the ketolide antibacterial telithromycin against typical community-acquired respiratory pathogens

Community-acquired respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are among the most p revalent infectious diseases in the developed world. They cause considerabl e morbidity, resulting in a major impact on public health both clinically a nd socioeconomically. The bacterial pathogens most commonly associated with community-acquired RTIs are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenz ae and Moraxella catarrhalis, with Streptococcus pyogenes predominating in pharyngitis. Over the past years, each of these pathogens has developed mec hanisms to evade susceptibility to antibacterials, leading to an alarming g lobal increase in antibacterial resistance among these pathogens. There is great concern that currently available antibacterials are insufficient to t reat community-acquired RTIs and there is an urgent requirement for new age nts with activity against all strains of common community-acquired RTI path ogens. Telithromycin (HMR 3647) belongs to a new family of antibacterials, the ketolides, and has been specifically designed for the treatment of comm unity-acquired RTIs. This review covers the potent in vitro activity of tel ithromycin against the most common community-acquired RTI pathogens compare d with other currently available antimicrobial agents.