What is the recommended dose of clindamycin (clindamycin) for a child weighing 80.6 pounds?

Clindamycin Dosing for an 80.6-Pound Child

For a child weighing 80.6 pounds (36.6 kg), the recommended dose of clindamycin is 8-10 mg/lb/day (16-20 mg/kg/day) divided into three or four equal doses for severe infections, which equals approximately 645-806 mg per day divided into 3-4 doses. 1

Dosing Calculation

• Convert weight to appropriate units:

  • 80.6 pounds = 36.6 kg 1

• According to the FDA label for clindamycin:

  • For serious infections: 8-16 mg/kg/day (4-8 mg/lb/day) divided into three or four equal doses 1
  • For more severe infections: 16-20 mg/kg/day (8-10 mg/lb/day) divided into three or four equal doses 1

• Calculating the daily dose range:

  • Using mg/lb dosing: 8-10 mg/lb/day × 80.6 lb = 645-806 mg/day 1
  • Using mg/kg dosing: 16-20 mg/kg/day × 36.6 kg = 586-732 mg/day 1

Dosing Schedule Options

• For three times daily dosing (severe infection):

  • 215-269 mg per dose every 8 hours 1

• For four times daily dosing (severe infection):

  • 161-202 mg per dose every 6 hours 1

Pathogen-Specific Considerations

• For methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections:

  • Parenteral administration: 40 mg/kg/day divided every 6-8 hours 2
  • Oral administration: 30-40 mg/kg/day divided into 3-4 doses 2

• For Group A Streptococcus infections:

  • Oral clindamycin: 40 mg/kg/day in 3 doses 3, 2

• For methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus:

  • Oral clindamycin: 30-40 mg/kg/day in 3-4 doses 2

Important Clinical Considerations

• Clindamycin should be taken with a full glass of water to avoid esophageal irritation 1

• For β-hemolytic streptococcal infections, treatment should continue for at least 10 days 1

• Research has shown that inadequate dosing of clindamycin (<10 mg/kg/day) is independently associated with clinical failure in patients with skin infections 4

• Weight-based dosing is critical for optimal outcomes, with studies supporting the importance of adequate dosing to prevent treatment failure 4

• If significant diarrhea occurs during therapy, clindamycin should be discontinued due to risk of Clostridioides difficile infection 1

• For children with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, clinical guidelines support the use of clindamycin at 30-40 mg/kg/day in 3-4 doses for oral therapy 3, 2