Prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, solvates, or polymorphs thereof include a pharmaceutically and/or diagnostically active cationic steroidal antimicrobial (hereinafter “CSA”) compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, solvate, or polymorph thereof, and one or more cleavable groups (C.G.). Some embodiments include a CSA compound prepared in an inactive or less active form and that is capable of conversion to a fully active form upon administration to a subject, upon preparation of a pharmaceutical formulation containing the CSA composition, and/or upon exposure to physiological conditions. Pharmaceutical compositions include the prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt, stereoisomer, solvate, or polymorph thereof and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. Methods of treatment of bacterial infections in a patient in need utilize prodrugs or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, solvates, polymorphs thereof and/or the pharmaceutical compositions described herein.
