Description Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. Clindamycin is a semisynthetic antibiotic derived from lincomycin.

Microbiology Aerobic gram-positive cocci, including: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis (penicillinase and non-penicillinase producing strains), Streptococci, Pneumococci. Anaerobic gram-negative bacilli, including: Bacteroides species, Fusobacterium species. Anaerobic gram-positive non-spore forming bacilli, including: Propionibacterium species, Eubacterium species, Actinomyces species. Anaerobic and microaerophilic gram-positive cocci, including: Peptococcus species, Peptostreptococcus species, Microaerophilic streptococci, C. perferinges

Indications and Uses
Clindamycin Capsule, Powder for Oral Solution and Injection: Clindamycin hydrochloride has been shown to be effective in the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria or susceptible strains of gram positive bacteria such as streptococci, staphylococci and pneumococci: Upper respiratory infections, Lower respiratory infections, Skin and soft tissue infections, Bone and joint infections, Pelvic infections, Intra-abdominal infections, Septicemia and endocarditis, Dental infections.As an alternative therapy when used in combination with quinine or amodiaquine for the treatment of multi-drug resistant Plasmodium falciporum infection.

Clindamycin lotion: Indicated in the tretment of acne vulgaris.
Dosage and Administration Dosage of Clindamycin Capsule Serious Infections: 150 mg - 300 mg every six hours.
More severe infections: 300 mg - 450 mg every six hours.
To avoid the possibility of oesophageal irritation, Clindamycin capsules should be taken with a full glass of water.

Contraindications Clindamycin is contraindicated in patients previously found to be sensitive to clindamycin or any of the ingredients of this medicine.

Dosage And Administration

Dosege of Clindamycin Powder for Oral Solution
Serious Infections: 8 - 16 mg/kg/day divided into three or four equal doses. More severe infections: 16 - 25 mg/kg/day divided into three or four equal doses.

Dosage of Clindamycin Lotion Apply a thin film of Clindamycin Lotion twice daily to the affected areas.

Dosage of Clindamycin IV/IM Injection
Adults
Parenteral (IV/IM Administration): Serious infections due to aerobic gram-positive cocci and the more susceptible anaerobes:
600-1200 mg/day in 2- 4 equal doses. More severe infections, 1200-2700 mg/day in 2-4 equal doses.
For more serious infections, these doses may have to be increased. In life-threatening situations due to either aerobes or anaerobes these doses may be increased. Doses of as much as 4800 mg daily have been given intra-venously to adults.
Single intramuscular injections of greater than 600 mg are not recommended. Neonates (less than 1 month)
15 to 20 mg/kg/day in 3 to 4 equal doses. The lower effective dosage may be adequate for small prematures.
Pediatric patients (1 month of age to 16 years)
Parenteral (IV/IM) administration: 20 to 40 mg/kg/day in 3 or 4 equal doses. The higher doses would be used for more severe infections.
Parenteral therapy may be changed to Capsules (clindamycin hydrochloride) when the condition warrants and at the discretion of the physician.
In cases of b-hemolytic streptococcal infections, treatment should be continued for at least 10 days.

Precautions Clindamycin should be prescribed with caution in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis Side Effects The adverse effects have been reported with the use of clindamycin are- abdominal pain, oesophagitis and oesophagial ulcer, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, pruritus, skin rashes, urticaria
Use in pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category B: Clindamycin crosses the placenta in humans. After multiple doses, amniotic fluid concentrations were approximately 30% of maternal concentrations. Clindamycin should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.
Lactation
Clindamycin has been reported to appear in breast milk. Therefore, it is not recommended for nursing mothers if not clearly needed.
Use in newborns and infants
When Clindamycin is administered to newborns and infants (birth to 16 years) , appropriate monitoring of organ system functions is desirable.
Geriatric use
Dose adjustment of Clindamycin is not necessary
Overdosage Overdosage with orally administered clindamycin has been rare. Adverse reactions similar to those seen with normal doses can be expected, however, unexpected reactions could occur. Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are not effective in removing clindamycin from the serum. Overdosage should be treated with simple gastric lavage. No specific antidote is known.

Other Dilution and Infusion Rates Clindamycin phosphate must be diluted prior to IV administration. The concentration of clindamycin in diluent for infusion should not exceed 18 mg per mL. Infusion rates should not exceed 30 mg per minute. The usual infusion dilutions and rates are as follows: Dose Diluent Infusion Duration (Dextrose 5% or NaCl 0.9%) 300 mg 50 ml 10 min 600 mg 50 ml 20 min 900 mg 50 ml-100 ml 30 min 1200 mg 100 ml 40 min Administration of more than 1200 mg in a single 1-hour infusion is not recommended. Single IM injections of greater than 600 mg are not recommended. Dilution is not required for intramuscular administration. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit. Dilution and Compatibility Physical and biological compatibility studies monitored for 24 hours at room temperature have demonstrated no inactivation or incompatibility with the use of Clindamycin phosphate Sterile Solution (clindamycin phosphate) in IV solutions containing sodium chloride, glucose, calcium or potassium, and solutions containing vitamin B complex in concentrations usually used clinically. No incompatibility has been demonstrated with the antibiotics cephalothin, kanamycin, gentamicin, penicillin or carbenicillin. Physico-Chemical Stability of diluted solutions of Clindamycin Injection: Room temperature: 16 days at 25 0 C. Refrigeration: 32 days at 4°C.