If you have a bacterial infection,
clindamycin may help treat your condition. This antibiotic is available in several different forms, and it works to treat bacterial infections by interfering with bacteria's ability to make proteins. Without these proteins, bacteria are unable to grow and multiply.
Oral or injectable forms of clindamycin are approved to treat the following infections:
- Serious respiratory tract infections
- Serious skin infections
- Serious soft tissue infections
- Abdominal (stomach) infections or abscesses
- Female pelvic infections
- Bone, joint, or bloodstream infections (injectable form only).
Clindamycin lotions, gels, solution, or foams that are applied to the skin are approved for the treatment of acne. Some
acne medications combine clindamycin with benzoyl peroxide, another
acne treatment. The vaginal forms (creams and suppositories) are approved to treat
bacterial vaginosis.
It is important to know that this medication is approved for treating infections only when they are caused by certain types of bacteria. Not all bacteria will respond to clindamycin. Also, bacteria have different resistance patterns in various regions in the country, which means that some bacteria may be susceptible to the drug in certain parts of the country but not in others. Clindamycin is completely ineffective for treating viral infections, such as the
common cold or
the flu.
(Click What Is Clindamycin Used For? for more information on using this medicine for infections caused by certain types of bacteria. This article also describes how the antibiotic works, whether it is safe for children, and whether there are any off-label uses.)
