Parenteral clindamycin phosphate: pharmacology with normal and abnormal liver function and effect on nasal staphylococci.

Parenteral clindamycin was evaluated in 41 patients with a variety of infections. The four major findings were as follows. (i) Five hours after the intravenous administration of 600 mg of clindamycin, the mean serum concentration in patients with "moderate to severe" hepatic dysfunction was 24.3 mug/ml, and in those with normal liver function it was 8.3 mug/ml (P <0.02). This suggests that the dose of clindamycin might be modified in patients with liver disease. (ii) There was a positive association between the 5-h serum clindamycin level and the degree of elevation of the serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. (iii) No significant side effects were observed. Of 24 patients with preexisting hepatic dysfunction, 5 showed deterioration and 5 showed improvement of liver function during therapy. (iv) Whereas all pre-treatment isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis from the anterior nares were susceptible to clindamycin, 6 of 9 post-treatment isolates were resistant, most probably due to selection of resistant organisms.