Clindamycin (p.o., inj) sits on its own class called a lincosamide. It’s bacteriostatic but can be made bacteriocidal if we give it by IV. It is used for anaerobic GI and respiratory infections.
Adverse reactions: Not surprisingly, it can cause diarrhea (as most antibiotics mess with the GI tract). Extremely high risk for C. diff. Most guidelines say this antibiotic shouldn’t be stretched for more than 7 days because there’s a high risk of C. diff and pseudomembraneous colitis. Some doctors stretch it to 10 but it’s highly risky.
Recap
- Bacteriostatic (unless given intravenously)
- Use
- Anaerobic Infections – GI, respiratory
- Topically for acne
- Adverse Reactions
- Diarrhea
- Pseudomembranous colitis – therefore limit therapy to no more than 7 days
