Azithromycin is an antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. This includes middle ear infections, strep throat, pneumonia, travelers diarrhea, and certain other intestinal infections. Along with other medications, it may also be used for malaria. It can be taken by mouth or intravenously with doses once per day.Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and upset stomach. An allergic reaction, such as anaphylaxis, QT prolongation, or a type of diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile is possible. No harm has been found with its use during pregnancy. Its safety during breastfeeding is not confirmed, but it is likely safe. Azithromycin is an azalide, a type of macrolide antibiotic. It works by decreasing the production of protein, thereby stopping bacterial growth.Azithromycin was discovered in 1980 by the Croatian pharmaceutical company Pliva and approved for medical use under the brand name Sumamed in 1988. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. The World Health Organization classifies it as critically important for human medicine. It is available as a generic medication and is sold under many trade names worldwide. In 2019, it was the 48th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 15 million prescriptions. Medical uses
Azithromycin is used to treat diverse infections, including:

Prevention and treatment of acute bacterial exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, or S. pneumoniae. The benefits of long-term prophylaxis must be weighed on a patient-by-patient basis against the risk of cardiovascular and other adverse effects.
Bedaquiline, sold under the brand name Sirturo, is a medication used to treat active tuberculosis. Specifically, it is used to treat multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) along with other medications for tuberculosis. It is used by mouth.Common side effects include nausea, joint pains, headaches, and chest pain. Serious side effects include QT prolongation, liver dysfunction, and an increased risk of death. While harm during pregnancy has not been found, it has not been well studied in this population. It is in the diarylquinoline antimycobacterial class of medications. It works by blocking the ability of M. tuberculosis to make adenosine 5-triphosphate (ATP).Bedaquiline was approved for medical use in the United States in 2012. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. The cost for six months is approximately US$900 in low-income countries, US$3,000 in middle-income countries, and US$30,000 in high-income countries.The public sector invested US$455–747 million in developing bedaquiline. This is thought to be 1.6× to 5.1× what the owner, Janssen Biotech, invested (estimated at US$90–240 million). If capitalized and risk-adjusted, these costs become US$647–1,201 million and US$292–772 million, respectively.