title: Clindamycin, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol.
abstract: Clindamycin, metronidazole, and chloramphenicol are three antimicrobial agents useful in the treatment of anaerobic infections. Clindamycin is effective in the treatment of most infections involving anaerobes and gram-positive cocci, but emerging resistance has become a problem in some clinical settings. Metronidazole is effective in the treatment of infections involving gram-negative anaerobes, but it is unreliable in the treatment of gram-positive anaerobic infections and is ineffective in treating aerobic infections. Additionally, metronidazole is often the drug of choice in treating infections in which Bacteroides fragilis is a serious concern. Chloramphenicol is effective in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections, including serious anaerobic infections, but is rarely used in Western countries because of concerns about toxicity, including aplastic anemia and gray baby syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kasten
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D002981:Clindamycin; D002701:Chloramphenicol