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Pertussis prevention and treatment: a call for wider access to azithromycin
Author(s) -
Bowen Asha C,
Ferson Mark J,
Graudins Linda V,
Palasanthiran Pamela
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02455.x
Subject(s) - azithromycin , medicine , antibiotics , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Azithromycin is recommended as the first‐line antibiotic for the prophylaxis and treatment of pertussis, a common vaccine‐preventable communicable disease. Azithromycin is better tolerated than other macrolide antibiotics. Access to azithromycin is limited, as the product information and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme do not include azithromycin for pertussis. Issues regarding access to azithromycin are highlighted in a case report of pertussis exposure in a tertiary paediatric hospital.