Clindamycin: Uses And Indications

Clindamycin is a broad-spectrum, semi-synthetic antibiotic of a bacteriostatic nature. Have you ever been prescribed or have you heard of? If you want to know more about it, please read this article further. We are going to tell you all about this drug.

We can say in advance that clindamycin is used to treat certain types of bacterial infections. It is most often used for infections of the lungs, skin, blood, internal organs and reproductive organs in women.

How does clindamycin work?

As we mentioned previously, clindamycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. More specifically, it belongs to the group of lincosamides because it is mainly bacteriostatic. This means that it is active against aerobic gram-positive bacteria and many anaerobic bacteria.

Clindamycin works by binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. Thus, it inhibits the first steps of protein synthesis in the bacterial cell. Although its action is essentially bacteriostatic, it can also be bactericidal in high concentrations. This will depend on the sensitivity of the strain and medium.

After oral administration, it is absorbed in almost 90% of the administered dose . Although it is not known to what extent, taking it with food delays absorption.

Therapeutic indications of clindamycin

This drug is prescribed for the treatment of infections caused by sensitive microorganisms that cause diseases such as:

• Osteomyelitis.
• Pulmonary abscess.
• Bacterial vaginosis.
• Tooth infections.

• Inflammation of the pelvic organs.
• Skin and soft tissue infections.
• Pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii .
• Acquired Pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
• Cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients.
• Acute sinusitis in children over 1 month of age and under 18 years of age.
• Acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis caused by group A streptococci ( S. pyogenes ).

As some of these infections are often also caused by Gram-negative rods, clindamycin is used with additional antibiotics. It is also used topically in the treatment of acne.

However, it can be used to treat infections with strains sensitive to clindamycin or erythromycin. It may also happen that some strains are sensitive to one of the antibiotics and resistant to the other.

Adverse Effects

The main undesirable effect of clindamycin is diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile . It is associated with this type of diarrhea in up to 10% of treated patients, regardless of the route of administration, including topical treatment.

Hypersensitivity reactions can also occur. When taken orally, clindamycin can cause oesophagitis if not taken with water.

On the other hand, patients treated with clindamycin may also experience other secondary side effects which include:

• Hematological : there have been cases of severe leukopenia, leukocytosis, anemia and thrombocytopenia.

• Cardiovascular system: In some patients, clindamycin can cause severe cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, QT prolongation and polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia.
• Central nervous system: isolated cases of neuromuscular block are possible.
• Gastrointestinal: Treatment with clindamycin may cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In addition, it may cause pseudomembranous colitis as a result of superinfection with Clostridium difficile . However, this effect is reversible on discontinuation of treatment. In addition, supportive measures should be used in conjunction with the administration of vancomycin or metronidazole.
• Liver : This antibiotic can increase aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, as well as bilirubin levels due to direct liver damage.
• Kidneys and genitourinary system: is associated with clindamycin with images of vaginal candidiasis and vulvovaginitis.

• Skin: There are cases where a mild to moderate rash may be observed.

Facial pruritus, contact dermatitis, facial edema, and maculopapular rash may also occur with topical treatment.

Other side effects that may occur in people treated with clindamycin include Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hypersensitivity reactions in HIV-infected patients, and lymphadenitis. However, such reactions are rare.

Contraindications

Clindamycin is contraindicated in patients with a history of allergic reactions to this drug and to lincomycin. When it comes to breastfeeding, you should know that this drug passes into breast milk.

For this reason and due to the possible serious consequences for the infant, its use during feeding is contraindicated.

It should also not be used during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary, as there is insufficient research or data on it.

Is Clindamycin Safe?

Numerous clinical trials and extensive experience in the field of pharmacovigilance support the use of clindamycin as an effective drug, inter alia, in the treatment of maxillofacial infections. Therefore, it can be said that its use is safe.

If you have been prescribed this drug as part of the treatment of a health problem, always follow the advice of your doctor. And if in doubt, always talk to a specialist before taking any action.