It was with some concern that I read the news that the antibiotic Azithromycin could increase the risk of heart deaths. Researchers at Vanderbilt University compared data of people who took the antibiotic and those who took other less dangerous antibiotics. The results showed a increased mortality rate for people who took Azithromycin and those who are already at risk of cardiac failure or those with cardiac illnesses.
Since I have no subscription, I could not read the full report published on the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). From what I understand, Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, which prevents bacteria from multiplying by affecting their ability to produce growth proteins. It is known that macrolide antibiotics cause abnormal heart rates (arrythmias), but Azithromycin was considered safe like another antibiotic Amoxicillin. But the study by Vanderbilt researchers has proved otherwise.
For experts the estimated 245 additional cardiovascular deaths per 1 million cases may not be that significant, but this is an antibiotic that is frequently prescribed even in India. And poor souls like me have taken it.
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