Clindamycin Dosing for Skin Infections
Adult Dosing Recommendations
- The standard dose for oral therapy of skin and soft tissue infections in adults is 300-450 mg orally three times daily, with a duration of 7-10 days depending on clinical response, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, 2, 3
- For intravenous therapy in hospitalized patients, the dose is 600-900 mg IV every 8 hours for complicated skin infections 4, 3
Clinical Considerations
- Clindamycin is effective for both methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, providing coverage for both Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococci when used alone, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, 2, 3
- Clindamycin can be used in penicillin-allergic patients, with a bacteriostatic effect, but with a risk of inducible resistance in erythromycin-resistant MRSA strains 1, 2, 3
Pediatric Dosing
- For children able to swallow capsules, an alternative guideline dosing is 10-20 mg/kg/day in 3 divided doses orally, or 25-40 mg/kg/day IV in 3 divided doses, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, 2
When to Choose Clindamycin
- Clindamycin is appropriate for purulent skin infections (abscesses, furuncles) after incision and drainage, cellulitis when MRSA coverage is needed, penicillin allergy, and areas with low clindamycin resistance rates, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, 2, 3
- Alternative agents if clindamycin resistance is high include trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline, and linezolid, as recommended by the Infectious Diseases Society of America 1, 2, 3