Clindamycin is frequently implicated in antibiotic-associated colitis. In addition to its association with Clostridioides difficile, its antibacterial mechanism distinguishes it from aminoglycosides because it:

• A Causes misreading of mRNA at the 30S subunit
• B Inhibits the 50S subunit, preventing peptide bond formation and translocation ✓
• C Blocks the exit tunnel of the 40S subunit
• D Interferes with ribosomal recycling factor at termination

Explanation

Clindamycin binds the 23S rRNA component of the 50S ribosomal subunit and inhibits peptide bond formation and translocation, making it bacteriostatic. Because it shares the same binding region as macrolides and chloramphenicol, cross-resistance through erm-encoded methylation of 23S rRNA can occur across this group. Misreading of mRNA at the 30S subunit is the aminoglycoside action, and the other options describe nonexistent targets in bacterial protein synthesis.

Reference: Katzung Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 15th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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