Anaerobic Wound Infections in Cancer Patients: Comparative Trial of Clindamycin, Tinidazole, and Doxycycline

Abstract

Clindamycin, tinidazole (a parent compound to metronidazole), and doxycycline were compared in vitro against 376 anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens. Bacteriostatic tests indicated that clindamycin was the most active drug, on a weight basis, against these strains except for Clostridium species. The three drugs were compared as therapies for anaerobic wound infections in cancer patients. In a randomized double-blind study, no statistically significant differences between clindamycin and tinidazole could be documented. Doxycycline was less active presumably because of the lack of clinical response in three out of four patients infected with doxycycline-resistant strains. No major untoward effects were observed. The bactericidal dilution of the serum was predictive of the clinical outcome.

Microbiology and management of infected solid tumours

“…Multiple studies provided an insight into the aetiology of infected tumour mass indirectly through the administration of antimicrobial agents effective against these organisms (Sinkovits & Smith 1970;Klastersky et al . 1977Klastersky et al .…”

Anaerobic infection in cancer patients: comparative evaluation of clindamycin and cefoxitin

“…The respective role of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms in the genesis of localized infections to cancer patients is thus unclear. However, antibiotics such as clindamycin and tinidazole, which are especially active against anaerobes, are effective in wound infections in cancer patients from which anaerobic and aerobic bacteria can be isolated (8).…”