We conducted a double-blind, controlled trial of low-dose (150 mg/d) oral
clindamycin hydrochloride vs placebo to prevent recurrent
staphylococcal skin infections. Twenty-two patients (11 in both the placebo and
clindamycin treatment groups) completed the trial and were assessable. The two groups did not differ as to age, sex, race, or the number of recurrent
abscesses preceding the trial. In pretrial evaluations, no patient had
hypogammaglobulinemia or abnormal neutrophil function. Sixty-four percent (7/11) of the placebo-treated patients had a recurrent
abscess within three months of enrollment whereas 82% (9/11) of the patients treated with
clindamycin were free of any
infection during the three-month treatment period. Of the nine patients who responded to
clindamycin treatment, six did not have a
recurrent infection for at least nine months after discontinuing
antibiotic therapy. All patients tolerated the regimen without side effects. We conclude that a three-month course of low-dose oral
clindamycin is an effective, convenient, well-tolerated, and often durable approach to prevention of recurrent
staphylococcal skin infections.