Erythromycin (ophthalmic ointment): study card

Erythromycin (ophthalmic ointment) — Macrolide antibiotic. Study the mechanism, listed uses and warnings from the US label on one sourced card.

Generic name: Erythromycin (ophthalmic ointment)
Class: Macrolide antibiotic
Mechanism: Macrolide that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis without affecting nucleic acid synthesis.
Used for: Superficial conjunctival or corneal infections caused by erythromycin-susceptible organisms; Ophthalmia neonatorum prophylaxis as listed in the selected label; topical prophylaxis alone is inadequate for infants of mothers with clinically apparent gonorrhea
Common side effects: Minor ocular irritation; Redness; Hypersensitivity reactions
Warnings: Hypersensitivity to erythromycin

Brand questions use only name pairings verified against the linked product source. Unverified pairings are withheld from these questions; the other study content remains available.

Drug class families: Macrolide antibacterials

Read the source label ↗

Label date: 20260828 · For learning, not clinical decisions. US label and brand information; always consult the current source.

Source snapshot checked: 2026-10-21. The source document and selected fields were compared. The complete card has not had an independent clinical review.

Practice

Pronunciation

Erythromycin (ophthalmic ointment): e-rith-roe-MYE-sin

Pronunciation is shown for the US English generic name.

Other drugs in the same class

Macrolide antibacterials: Azithromycin

Body system

Eye & ear · 19 Drug cards

Compare with related cards

Azithromycin

Same class family: Macrolide antibacterials

Mechanism: Binds to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit and interrupts protein synthesis.

Only on the Azithromycin card: Used for — Community-acquired pneumonia caused by the specified susceptible bacteria in adults or children aged 6 months and older who are appropriate for oral treatment; Streptococcal pharyngitis or tonsillitis in adults or children aged 2 years and older who cannot use first-line therapy; Acute otitis media caused by the specified susceptible bacteria in children aged 6 months and older; Urethritis or cervicitis caused by the specified susceptible organisms in adults · Common side effects — Diarrhea; Nausea; Abdominal pain; Vomiting · Warnings — Serious allergic and skin reactions; Hepatotoxicity; QT prolongation / torsades de pointes

An item counts as shared only when both cards use the same wording. If a card does not list an item, that is not a statement that the effect never occurs.