[Macrolides in antibiotic therapy of infections of the bronchial tree].

Macrolide antibiotics have been used to treat acute and chronic inflammation in the respiratory tract based on their antibacterial activity. Now it is well known that macrolides down-regulate damaging prolonged inflammation as well as increase mucous clearance and decrease bacterial virulence. Their ability to inhibit bacterial biofilm is a very important point in control of infections of the bronchial tree, where colonization of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were documented in clinical and experimental studies.