The place of azithromycin in the treatment of periodontal disease

The occurrence of periodontal disease in the population is on the increase and the therapeutic means combine conventional mechanic treatment with antibiotics and guided tissue regeneration and guided osseous regeneration. The most frequently used antibiotics are penicillins and tetracyclines and their derivatives. Unfortunately, the occurrence of allergic reactions especially to penicillins, as well as the steadily growing bacterial resistance require the choice of new alternative antibiotics active on the mainly Gram-negative anaerobic strains. Azithromycin is a new generation macrolide mainly used in respiratory tract infections and in urogenital infections, but it has pharmacokinetic properties such as tissular penetration and it is readily taken up by neutrophils, macrophages and fibroblasts and antiinflammatory effects which recommend it for treatment of periodontal disease. Computerised research of PubMed-NCBI resources, EBSCO Dentistry & Oral Sciences Sources, EBSCO Discovery Service and Ovid MEDLINE(R) resources has shown that there are relatively few clinical and microbiological studies on azithromycin as compared to the number of studies on the other antibiotics used in the treatment of periodontal disease. However, they are relevant for the efficacy of including azithromycin in periodontal treatment.