Final answer:
The primary purpose of Azithromycin Dihydrate (Zithromax, Zmax) is to treat bacterial infections. It works by targeting the bacterial ribosomes to prevent protein synthesis and is effective against a variety of infections including respiratory and skin infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary purpose of Azithromycin Dihydrate (Zithromax, Zmax) is for the treatment of bacterial infections. It is a type of antibiotic that specifically targets bacterial ribosomes, which are the structures responsible for protein synthesis within bacterial cells, rather than attacking peptidoglycan, which is found in bacterial cell walls. This mode of action makes it effective against a range of infections, such as respiratory tract infections, skin infections, and certain sexually transmitted infections, among others.
For example, in the case of Barbara who was suffering from pneumonia, Azithromycin was prescribed after amoxicillin was unable to resolve her infection. Following the administration of Azithromycin, Barbara's symptoms resolve, indicating the effectiveness of this antibiotic in treating her bacterial pneumonia.
Azithromycin is also related to another antibiotic called erythromycin, which is used for similar types of infections and can also be administered to pregnant women to prevent certain types of infections in newborns.