紅黴素屬於一類稱為大環內酯類抗生素的藥物。大環內酯類抗生素通過減少細菌生存所需的重要蛋白質的產生來減慢敏感細菌的生長或有時殺死敏感細菌。
Erythromycin belongs in a group of drugs called macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide antibiotics slow the growth of, or sometimes kill, sensitive bacteria by reducing the production of important proteins needed by the bacteria to survive