Clindamycin (Clindamycin Hydrochloride) - Indications and Dosage

Clindamycin is indicated for the treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria. Clindamycin is also indicated for the treatment of serious infections due to susceptible strains of streptococci, pneumococci, and staphylococci. Its use should be reserved for patients allergic to penicillin or other patients for whom, in the trial of the physician, a penicillin is inappropriate. Due to the risk of colitis, as described in the WARNING box, before selecting clindamycin the physician should consider the nature of the infection and the suitability of less toxic alternatives (eg, erythromycin).

Anaerobic: Serious respiratory tract infections such as empyema, anaerobic pneumonitis and lung abscess; serious skin and soft tissue infections, sepsis, intra-abdominal infections such as peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscess (typically resulting from anaerobic organisms resident in the gastrointestinal tract normal), infections of the female pelvis and genital tract such as endometritis, nongonococcal tuboovarian abscess, pelvic cellulitis and post-infection vaginal cuff.

Streptococci: Serious respiratory tract infections, severe skin and soft tissues.

Pneumococci: Serious respiratory tract infections.

Bacteriological studies should be conducted to determine the causes organisms and their susceptibility to clindamycin.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Clindamycin HCl and other antibacterial drugs, Clindamycin HCl should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria sensitive . When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antibacterial therapy. Without such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns in May assist in the selection of empirical therapy.