Micro & Immunology · single question

Clindamycin has activity against a broad range of bacteria. Against which organism is clindamycin notably INEFFECTIVE?

  1. Streptococcus viridans
  2. Bacteroides fragilis
  3. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
  4. Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA)
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Correct answer: C. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. It is effective against most gram-positive organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci) and anaerobes (Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus). In dentistry, clindamycin is used as an alternative to amoxicillin for infective endocarditis prophylaxis in penicillin-allergic patients. However, clindamycin has NO significant activity against gram-negative aerobic rods, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which has intrinsic resistance due to its outer membrane permeability barrier and efflux pumps. Enterobacteriaceae are also typically resistant to clindamycin.

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