What is the mechanism of action for Azithromycin?

Azithromycin primarily acts by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis. It achieves this by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit of bacteria, which prevents the elongation of the protein chain during translation. This inhibition is generally selective for bacterial ribosomes and does not affect human cells, making it a targeted antibiotic.

By preventing the synthesis of proteins that are essential for bacterial growth and reproduction, Azithromycin effectively hinders the bacterial life cycle, leading to a bacteriostatic effect. This mechanism is important for treating various infections caused by susceptible bacteria, including respiratory infections, skin infections, and sexually transmitted diseases.

The other mechanisms mentioned, such as inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis or disrupting cell wall permeability, are characteristic of different classes of antibiotics and do not describe the action of Azithromycin. For instance, many penicillins and cephalosporins function by preventing bacterial wall synthesis, but this is not applicable to Azithromycin's action.