II. Indications

  1. Activity spectrum
    1. Gram Positive Bacteria
      1. Includes MRSA (but growing resistance, including induced resistance)
      2. D-Test can evaluate for MRSA inducible resistance
    2. Anaerobic Bacteria infection
    3. No activity against Gram Negative Bacteria
  2. Conditions (FDA approved)
    1. Peritonitis
    2. Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
    3. MRSA Pneumonia
    4. MRSA Osteomyelitis
    5. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
    6. SBE Prophylaxis
  3. Conditions (off-label)
    1. Orofacial infections
    2. Bacterial Vaginosis
    3. Streptococcal Pharyngitis (in Penicillin allergic patients)
    4. Malaria
    5. Anthrax
    6. Babesiosis

III. Mechanism

  1. Lincosamide Antibiotic
    1. Derivative of lincomycin, originally isolated from soil actinomycete Streptomyces lincolnensis
    2. Binds 50S subunit of Bacterial ribosomes preventing peptidyl-tRNA translocation from A site to P site
    3. Results in incomplete Bacterial Protein chains

IV. Dosing: General

  1. Take capsules with water to prevent esophageal irritation
  2. May take with or without food
  3. Reduce dose in hepatic dysfunction

V. Dosing: Adult

  1. Oral
    1. Moderate infections: 300 to 450 mg orally three to four times daily
    2. Severe or complicated infections: 600 mg orally three times daily
  2. IV: 600 to 900 mg IV every 8 hours
  3. IM: up to 600 mg every 8 hours

VI. Dosing: Child

  1. Preterm Infant
    1. IV: 15 mg/kg/day IV divided three times daily
  2. Term Infants < 1 month
    1. IV: 15 to 20 mg/kg/day IV divided three times daily
  3. Child
    1. IV: 20 to 40 mg/kg/day IV divided every 6 to 8 hours
    2. PO: 8 to 20 mg/kg/day orally divided three to four times daily

VII. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Both renal and hepatic excretion
  2. Actively transported into abscesses
  3. Does not enter cerebrospinal fluid

VIII. Adverse Effects

  1. Abdominal cramping
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Pseudomembranous colitis (Clostridioides difficile)
    1. Although most systemic antibiotics risk C. diff, Clindamycin has been most associated

IX. Safety

  1. Considered safe in pregnancy
  2. Considered safe in Lactation

X. Drug Interactions

  1. CYP3A4 Inducers
    1. Decrease Clindamycin serum levels

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Cost: Medications

clindamycin (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
CLINDAMYCIN (PEDI) 75 MG/5 ML Generic $0.19 per ml
CLINDAMYCIN 2% VAGINAL CREAM Generic $1.62 per gram
CLINDAMYCIN HCL 150 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.11 each
CLINDAMYCIN HCL 300 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.26 each
CLINDAMYCIN HCL 75 MG CAPSULE Generic $0.33 each
CLINDAMYCIN PH 1% GEL Generic $0.46 per gram
CLINDAMYCIN PH 1% SOLUTION Generic $0.28 per ml
CLINDAMYCIN PHOS 1% PLEDGET Generic $0.31 each
CLINDAMYCIN PHOSP 1% LOTION Generic $0.50 per ml
CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 1% FOAM Generic $4.51 per gram
CLINDAMYCIN PHOSPHATE 1% GEL Generic $9.41 per ml
CLINDAMYCIN-BENZOYL PEROX 1-5% Generic $0.73 per gram
CLINDAMYCIN-BNZ PEROX 1-5% PMP Generic $1.46 per gram
cleocin (on 3/23/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
CLEOCIN 100 MG VAGINAL OVULE $58.57 each
CLEOCIN T 1% LOTION Generic $0.50 per ml