Clindamycin

(CC) Image: David E. Volk
Clindamycin, an antibiotic drug.

Clindamycin is an antibiotic drug, in the lincomycin class, used to treat infections. It is a semisynthetic version of lincomycin. It is used to treat streptococci, pneumococci and staphylococci.

Chemistry

The IUPAC chemical name of clindamycin is (2S,4R)-N-[2-chloro-1-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methylsulfanyloxan-2-yl]propyl]-1-methyl-4-propylpyrrolidine-2-carboxamide. It has chemical formula C₁₈H₃₃ClN₂O₅S, giving it a molecular mass of 424.9830 g/mol.

Usage

Clindamycin, a relatively old drug, is being found valuable in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an organism that causes significant nosocomial infection, which, increasingly, is considered a medical error for which third-party payor will not reimburse. While improvement in infection control technique are key to preventing hospital-acquired MRSA infection, there will be infections and they will need to be treated.

Clindamycin may be associated with a higher incidence of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), including pseudomembranous enterocolitis. Additional laboratory testing may be appropriate to evaluate the possibility of induced clindamycin resistance in MRSA. Whenever clindamycin is used, especially in oral form with outpatients, patients should be cautioned to report, immediately, episodes of diarrhea.

Synonyms and brand names

Synonyms

• Clindamycin HCl
• Clindamicina
• Clindamycin Hydrochloride
• Clindamycin Phosphate
• Clindamycine
• Clindamycine
• Clindamycinum

Brand Names

• Chlolincocin®
• Cleocin®
• Cleocin HCl®
• Cleocin Pediatric®
• Cleocin Phosphate®
• Cleocin T®
• Cleocin T® Gel
• Cleocin T® Lotion
• Cleocin T® Topical Solution
• Clinda-Derm®
• Clindagel®
• Clindesse®
• Clindets®
• Clinimycin®
• Dalacin®
• Dalacin C®
• Dalacin C® Flavored Granules
• Dalacin C® Phosphate
• Dalacin T® Topical Solution
• Evoclin®
• Sobelin®