Clindamycin is the most active on Lincomycin on Gram-negative bacteria, it is active on Gram-positive cocci, on forced anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides spp) and Plasmodium spp. It is recommended for treating serious infections caused by anaerobic bacteria (septicemia, pulmonary and abdominal abscesses, peritonitis), Gram-positive infections resistant to other antibiotics and in the treatment of malaria resistant to 4-aminoquinolines.
What is Clindamycin?
Clindamycin is an antibiotic, semisynthetic derivative of Lincomycin (antibiotic substance, in turn, produced from Streptomyces lincolnensis). It belongs to the group of Lincosamides and has a bacteriostatic activity (that causes the arrest of the bacterial growth without killing of microorganisms) or bactericidal (able to kill bacteria) depending on the concentration in which it is administered.
The spectrum of antimicrobial activity and the mechanism of action of Clindamycin are similar to those of Erythromycin and of other antibiotics macrolides, which act by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis and have a significant marked bacteriostatic or bactericidal impact. The effect depends on the concentration of the drug and of the other microbial species.
How should Clindamycin be taken?
It is mostly taken orally and parenterally, but it also exists in formulations suitable directly for skin application.
Side effects associated with Clindamycin
Due to the potential life-threatening side effects, Clindamycin is usually used as second-line therapy. In particular, there are special effects on the gastrointestinal tract, such as: nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea and persistent and severe cases of Pseudomembranous colitis. There are also other rarer side effects like headache, pruritus, skin reactions of allergic origin and elevated aminotransferase levels.
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Clindamycin
Particular attention should be paid during Clindamycin therapy, based on the assumption that it is more contemporary compared to other antibiotics such as Macrolides, for expansion of its therapeutic effect on adverse reactions. The simultaneous assumption of Erythromycin may determine the therapeutic efficacy.
