Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic. There are only two antibiotics in this group
used in veterinary medicine, lincomycin and clindamycin. Lincomycin is similar in
mechanism to clindamycin. The mechanism of action is also similar to macrolides,
such as erythromycin, and there may be cross-resistance among these drugs.
The site of action is the 50S ribosomal subunit. By inhibiting this ribosome, it decreases protein synthesis. In most bacteria, it is bacteriostatic. Lincomycin has a narrow spectrum of action. The spectrum includes primarily gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp.) and includes Erysipelothrix spp., Leptospira spp., and atypical bacteria such as Mycoplasma spp. Gram-negative bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae and P. aeruginosa are inherently resistant.