What Factors Affect a Sufficient Clindamycin Dose?

Clindamycin is an antibiotic medication that is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria and protozoa. The appropriate clindamycin dose is often determined by which type of infection this medication is being prescribed to treat. Other factors may influence dosage as well, such as the age of the patient, whether the route of administration for the medication is intravenous (IV) or oral, and the presence of some medical conditions, such as liver damage.

IV dosing is often used in a medical setting to combat acute bacterial infection. Adults undergoing this type of treatment for an infection often receive a clindamycin dose of 300 milligrams (mg) to 900 mg given every 8 hours. Oral medication is recommended as soon as a patient can tolerate it, and the usual dose, given every 6 hours, is 350 mg to 450 mg. Usually, the patient must take this medication for one or two weeks after the beginning of treatment.

Adults and children may use this medication prophylactically, to prevent infections that can sometimes follow surgery. A common adult clindamycin dose, given one hour prior to surgery, is 600 mg via IV. Dosing for children is weight-dependent, with 20 mg per 1 kilogram (kg), or 2.2 pounds (lb) of body weight given by IV half an hour before surgery. Oral prophylactic doses are given one hour before surgery, to give the medication time to work its way into the blood stream.

Individuals with liver conditions, such as damage or disease, may break down drugs like clindamycin more slowly in the system. In turn, this can lead to a build up of the drug in the body after repeated dosing, and a greater chance of side effects. To avoid this outcome, doctors often reduce a clindamycin dose given to patients with liver problems. Normally this is done in cases of repeated dosing, by monitoring a patient's response to the initial dose to determine how quickly they break down the drug. Adjustments can then be made to subsequent doses.

Even if symptoms disappear before the end of the treatment, it is important to finish a clindamycin dose regimen. Bacteria can mutate rapidly, and stopping a dose early can allow some bacteria to survive. These remaining bacteria may mutate and develop a resistance to the antibiotic, which can complicate future treatment and prolong the infection. Drug-resistant organisms are also likely to contribute to an outbreak, because the selection pressures operating on these bacteria favor them spreading between different people.