Treatment of Skin and soft tissue infections& Dental infections {Clindamycin}

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 gramnegative 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

Indication: Clindamycin HCl is indicated in the treatment of the following infections 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.

Dosage and Administration: Serious infections- 150 to 300 mg every 6 hours. More severe infections- 300 to 450 mg every 6 hours. To avoid the possibility of oesophageal irritation, Clindamycin capsules should be taken with a full glass of water.

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

Precautions: Clindamycin should be prescribed with caution in individuals with a history of gastrointestinal disease, particularly colitis

Contraindications: Clindamycin is contraindicated in patients previously found to be sensitive to

clindamycin or any of the ingredients of this medicine.

Pregnancy and Lactation: Pregnancy Category B. Clindamycin has been reported to appear in breast milk in the range of 0.7 to 3.8 mcg/mL. So this drug should be used only if clearly needed.

Pediatric Use: When Clindamycin HCl is administered to the pediatric population (birth to 16 years), appropriate monitoring of organ system functions is desirable.

Geriatric use: Dose adjustment of Clindamycin is not necessary

Drug Interactions: Clindamycin enhance the action of other neuromuscular blocking agents. Therefore, it should be used with caution in patients receiving such agents. Antagonism has been demonstrated between clindamycin and erythromycin in vitro. Because of possible clinical significance, these two drugs should not be administered concurrently.

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.