Clindamycin and lincomycin

Clindamycin and lincomycin

Clindamycin is a chlorine-substituted derivative of lincomycin. Clindamycin has a spectrum similar to that of lincomycin, but it is more active and is well absorbed after oral intake. Therefore clindamycin is preferable.

Clindamycin

•         It bind to 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis.

•         Its antibacterial spectrum is similar to that of erythromycin. It has the useful additional property of effects against anaerobic bacteria, especially Bacteroid fragilis.

Clinical uses of clindamycin:

•         For Staphylococcal bone and joint infections.

•         Dental infections.

•         Serious intra-abdominal sepsis and infections originating in the female genital tract e.g. septic abortion and pelvic abscesses (usually in combination with aminoglycosides or cephalosprins).

•         Clindamycin plus primaquine is an effective treatment for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in AIDS patients.

•         It is also used in combination with pyrimethamine for AIDS-related toxoplasmosis of the brain.

Adverse effects of clidamycin and lincomycin:

•         Diarrhea which is sometime severe.

•         Skin rashes.

•         Impaired liver function and neutropenia sometimes occur.

•         Antibiotic associated pseudomembraneous colitis, usually due to opportunistic infection of the bowel with Clostridium difficile (fatal complication), treated with metronidazole.

Note: teeth discoloration

Deposition in the bone and primary dentition occurs during calcification in growing children this causes discoloration and hypoplasia of the teeth, a temporary stunting of growth, and increase liability to caries.