Comparative antimicrobial activity of the new macrolide flurithromycin against respiratory pathogens.

The activity of flurithromycin against Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Branhamella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus was determined by the agar dilution method. Flurithromycin showed high activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes and Branhamella catarrhalis (MIC90 = 0.032-0.25 mg/l). Its MIC90 value against Haemophilus influenzae strains was 4.0 mg/l and 16 mg/l against Staphylococcus aureus strains. Flurithromycin has promising antibacterial activity which warrants clinical trials.