Efficacy of intravenous clindamycin and methicillin in gram-positive soft tissue infections.

In a comparative study on a general surgical service, intravenous clindamycin phosphate or methicillin was used to treat a variety of soft tissue infections due to gram-positive organisms, chiefly staphylococci. The infections were rated according to severity, responsible organisms, and site of the infection. Excellent or good clinical and bacteriologic responses were obtained with both clindamycin and methicillin as adjuncts to basic surgical therapy in these soft tissue infections. The adverse effects of each drug were detailed, and were comparable. Clindamycin phosphate is a satisfactory substitute for methicillin in soft tissue infections secondary to gram-positive organisms.