Ocular tissue absorption of clindamycin phosphate
K. F. Tabbara and G. R. O'Connor
Clindamycin phosphate, a new semisynthetic antibiotic that is effective in
the treatment of toxoplasmosis and of infections caused by Gram-positive
bacteria, was found to be highly concentrated in the choroid, iris, and
retina of the pigmented rabbit eye after a single intramuscular injection
of 75 mg/kg. Drug levels considered adequate for the control of most ocular
infections were detectable in the iris, choroid, and retina 24 hours after
injection, at which time serum levels were negligible. Subconjunctival
injection of clindamycin phosphate also produced sustained high levels of
drug in the choroid, iris, and retina; but when 150 mg was injected in a
volume of 1 ml, corneal edema and severe inflammation of the conjunctiva
resulted. Lesser amounts (15 to 35 mg) injected subconjunctivally produced
adequate ocular tissue levels without damage to the conjunctiva or cornea.
