DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i05.072

Pages: 1843-1847

Azithromycin (AZI), prototype of a novel class of macrolide named azalide,is a congener of erythromycin . Macrolides including azithromycin are used for wide range of infections such as upper respiratory tract infections, sexually transmitted diseases, skin and soft tissue infections. In dental practice, azithromycin is frequently used in odontogenic infections because of its capability to penetrate into soft tissue, longer half life and higher uptake by fibroblasts, macrophages, neutrophils which are main players of inflammation. Several evidences also confirm thats its concentration is high in saliva and gingival tissue than in plasma. This review article provides information that azithromycin is not only used as an antibiotic but also as an antiinflammatory agent to resolve gingival overgrowth or to suppress periodontal pathogens. If in future, more research occurs to evaluate the effectiveness of azithromycin it will provide more insight into the promising action of it as a valuable modulator in periodontal therapy. Azithromycin shows a potential for eventual use as an adjunct in the treatment of periodontitis and gingival overgrowth. This article throws a light on its properties mentioned from past literature to present arena for the sames.