Erythromycin is a macrolide antibiotic widely used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-positive bacteria and certain atypical organisms. It works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis through binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit, thereby preventing bacterial growth. Erythromycin was first discovered in the early 1950s from the soil bacterium Streptomyces erythreus (now Saccharopolyspora erythraea), marking an important milestone in antibiotic development. It became one of the first effective alternatives to penicillin, especially for patients with penicillin allergy. Over time, erythromycin has played a significant role in clinical medicine and has also served as the foundation for the development of newer macrolide antibiotics with improved pharmacokinetic properties and tolerability.
