Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic primarily used to treat serious bacterial infections caused by Gram-positive organisms, including Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. It functions by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis through binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit. Lincomycin was first discovered in 1962 from Streptomyces lincolnensis and was subsequently introduced into clinical practice in the late 1960s. Its development marked an important addition to the antibiotic arsenal, especially for patients allergic to penicillin. Over the years, lincomycin has been used both in human and veterinary medicine, though its use in humans has become more selective due to the development of newer lincosamides, such as clindamycin, which offer improved pharmacokinetic properties. Despite this, lincomycin remains valuable for targeted therapy against susceptible infections, particularly where alternative treatments are limited.
