122
P A R T 2
Chemotherapeutic agents
TABLE 9.9
DRUGS IN FOCUS Other antibiotics
Drug name
Dosage/route
Usual indications
Lincosamides
clindamycin (Cleocin)
Adult: 150–300 mg PO q 6 hours or
600–2700 mg/day in two to four equal doses;
reduce dose with renal impairment
Paediatric: 8–25 mg/kg/day PO or 15–40 mg/
kg/day IM or IV in 3–4 divided doses
lincomycin (Lincocin)
Adult: 500 mg PO q 6–8 hours, 600 mg IM q
12–24 hours, or 600 mg to 1 g q 8–12 hours;
reduce dose with renal impairment
Paediatric: 30–60 mg/kg/day PO in 3–4 divided
doses, 10 mg/kg IM q 12–24 hours, or
10–20 mg/kg/day IV in divided doses
Treatment of severe infections when
penicillin or other less toxic antibiotics
cannot be used
Macrolides
azithromycin (Azith, Zedd,
Zithromax)
Adult: 500 mg/day IV or 500 mg–1 g/day PO
Paediatric: 10 mg/kg PO as a single dose
on day 1, then 5 mg/kg PO on day 2–5 or
30 mg/kg PO as a single dose
Treatment of mild to moderate respiratory
infections and urethritis in adults and
otitis media and pharyngitis/tonsillitis in
children
clarithromycin (Clarac,
Kalixocin)
Adult: 150–450 mg PO q 6 hours
Paediatric: 15 mg/kg/day PO given q 12 hours
for 10 days
Treatment of various respiratory, skin,
sinus, and maxillary infections; effective
against mycobacteria
erythromycin
(E-Mycin, EES)
Adult: 15–20 mg/kg/day IV or PO
Paediatric: 30–50 mg/kg/day PO in divided
doses
Treatment of infections in people allergic
to penicillin; drug of choice for treatment
of Legionnaire’s disease, infections
caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae,
Ureaplasma species, syphilis, mycoplasma
pneumonia, and chlamydial infections
roxithromycin (Biaxsig,
Rulide)
Adults: 300 mg/day PO
Paediatric >40 kg:150 mg PO b.d.
24–40 kg: 100 mg PO b.d.
12–23 kg: 50 mg PO b.d.
6–11 kg: 25 mg PO b.d.
Upper and lower respiratory tract infection,
skin infection, tonsillitis, impetigo
Monobactam
aztreonam (Azactam)
Adult: 500 mg to 1 g q 8–12 hours IM or IV;
reduce dose in renal and hepatic impairment
Paediatric: 30 mg/kg IM or IV q 6–8 hours
Treatment of gram-negative enterobacterial
infections; safe alternative for treating
infections caused by susceptible
bacteria in people who may be allergic
to penicillins or cephalosporins
