The comparison of sodium sulfacetamide and erythromycin in treating trachoma

Abstract

Trachoma is a common eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and there are many medicines for it already. Erythromycin is a type of antibiotic and sodium sulfacetamide is an antibacterial drug, they are both commonly used for treating trachoma. This passage contrasts the use of sodium sulfacetamide and erythromycin in the concepts of synthesis process, targets, and the resistance built up. Sodium sulfacetamide is a synthesized substance, generally contains 2 steps: prepare sulfacetamide and then let it hydrolysis to form the salt. It works by impede the synthesis of folic acids. If the Chlamydia tachomatis start to get folic acids from host cell, then sodium sulfacetamide cant work any more. Erythromycin is produced by fermentation, it works by bind to ribosomes of the trachoma to impede synthesis of protein. The Chlamydiae can built up resistance by transporting erythromycin out, changing structure of their ribosomes, or destructing the erythromycin molecules. They dont share many things in common, but the importance of them is significant, and they represents the main treatments of trachoma.