Comparative activity of azithromycin against clinical isolates of mycobacteria

Azithromycin exhibited in-vitro activity against 20 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium avium complex for which the MIC90 was 32 mg/L and 22 clinical isolates of other mycobacteria but showed no activity against 20 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC90 > 128 mg/L) nor against the single isolate of Mycobacterium marinum tested (MIC 128 mg/L). These results suggest that the drug may prove useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of infections due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria, including M. avium complex in patients with AIDS.