Merck Manual

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Clindamycin

By

Brian J. Werth

, PharmD, University of Washington School of Pharmacy

Reviewed/Revised May 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
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Pharmacokinetics

Clindamycin is absorbed well orally and can be given parenterally. Clindamycin diffuses well into body fluids except cerebrospinal fluid; it is concentrated in phagocytes. Most of the drug is metabolized; metabolites are excreted in bile and urine.

Indications for Clindamycin

The spectrum of activity for clindamycin is similar to that of the macrolide erythromycin (see table Some Clinical Uses of Macrolides Some Clinical Uses of Macrolides Some Clinical Uses of Macrolides ) except that clindamycin is

Aerobic gram-negative bacilli and enterococci are resistant.

Clindamycin is usually used for anaerobic infections; however, clindamycin resistance has emerged among these organisms in some regions. Because these infections often also involve aerobic gram-negative bacilli, additional antibiotics are also used. Clindamycin is part of combination therapy for the following:

Clindamycin can be used for infections (eg, skin and soft-tissue infections) in communities where community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is common; whether clindamycin is useful depends on local resistance patterns.

Clindamycin can be used for infections due to clindamycin- and erythromycin-susceptible strains. However, some CA-MRSA strains are clindamycin-susceptible and erythromycin-resistant; erythromycin resistance in these strains may be due to an active efflux mechanism or modification of the ribosomal target. If the infecting strain of clindamycin-susceptible CA-MRSA is resistant to erythromycin because of the efflux mechanism, patients can be expected to respond to clindamycin. However, if the strain is erythromycin-resistant because of modification of the ribosomal target, patients may not respond clinically to clindamycin because certain mutants can emerge during clindamycin therapy; these mutants are resistant to clindamycin and erythromycin because of constitutive modification of the ribosomal target. (Constitutive means that resistance is always present regardless of whether an inducer, such as erythromycin, is present.)

Erythromycin resistance due to efflux can be differentiated from that due to inducible ribosomal target modification with a commonly used double disk diffusion assay (D test). A clindamycin disk is placed at a standard distance from an erythromycin disk on an agar plate streaked with a standard inoculum of the CA-MRSA strain in question. Zone of growth inhibition (shaped like the letter “D”) around the clindamycin disk, with a flattened zone nearest the erythromycin disk indicates inducible ribosomal resistance. Patients who have moderate to severe infection with an inducible ribosomal-resistant CA-MRSA strain and a positive D test should not be treated with clindamycin.

Clindamycin cannot be used for central nervous system infections (other than cerebral toxoplasmosis) because penetration into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is poor.

Contraindications to Clindamycin

Clindamycin is contraindicated in patients who have had an allergic reaction to it, and it should be used with caution in those who have a history of regional enteritis, ulcerative colitis, or antibiotic-associated colitis.

Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Animal reproduction studies with clindamycin have not shown risk to the fetus. In clinical trials with pregnant women, clindamycin given during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters has not been associated with an increased frequency of birth defects. If medically indicated, clindamycin can be used during pregnancy.

Clindamycin enters breast milk. Use during breastfeeding is not recommended.

Adverse Effects of Clindamycin

The main adverse effect of clindamycin is

Clindamycin is more strongly associated with C. difficile colitis than any other antibiotic and has a black box warning for this adverse effect. C. difficile–associated diarrhea is about 20 times more likely to occur after clindamycin exposure than after no antibiotic exposure, whereas other antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, have about 5 times greater odds of C. difficile compared to no antibiotics.

Hypersensitivity reactions may occur. The most commonly reported adverse effect is mild to moderate maculopapular rash, but severe skin reactions, including toxic epidermal necrolysis, have also been reported.

Clindamycin may prolong the QT interval especially in patients with multiple risk factors for QT prolongation.

If not swallowed with water, clindamycin may cause esophagitis.

Dosing Considerations for Clindamycin

Dose adjustments are not required for renal failure. Clindamycin is given every 6 to 8 hours.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Cleocin, Cleocin Ovules, Cleocin Pediatric, Cleocin T, CLIN, Clindacin ETZ, Clindacin-P, Clinda-Derm , Clindagel, ClindaMax, ClindaReach, Clindesse, Clindets, Evoclin, PledgaClin, XACIATO
A/T/S, Akne-mycin, E.E.S., Emcin Clear , EMGEL, E-Mycin, ERYC, Erycette, Eryderm , Erygel, Erymax, EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythra Derm , Erythrocin, Erythrocin Lactobionate, Erythrocin Stearate, Ilosone, Ilotycin, My-E, PCE, PCE Dispertab , Romycin, Staticin, T-Stat
Daraprim
Qualaquin
Primaquine
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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