Clindamycin in the treatment of osteomyelitis in children: a report of 29 cases.

Clindamycin phosphate was used in the treatment of 29 children with osteomyelitis of whom 25 had an acute and four a chronic type of infection. The usual dose was 50 mg/kg/day intravenously for approximately three weeks followed by oral clindamycin palmitate at home in a dose of 30 mg/kg/day for an additional six weeks. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 22 of 29 cases: 96% of strains were penicillin resistant. The clinical and bacteriologic results in the present series were good to excellent. There was prompt clinical and bacteriologic response shortly after initiation of clindamycin therapy. Good bone penetration of the drug was observed. Long-term evaluation revealed satisfactory clinical and roentgenographic progress in all patients. No diarrhea or manifestations of enterocolitis appeared in any patient in spite of high doses of the drug for intervals up to nine weeks.