Antibiotic, produced Streptomyces lincolniensis,
has a bacteriostatic effect. Suppress protein synthesis of bacteria due to reversible binding to 50S subunit of ribosomes, disrupts the formation of peptide bonds.
Active for gram-positive cocci (Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., incl. Streptococcus pneumoniae); Haemophilus influenzae; Bacillus anthracis, Mycoplasma spp., Bacteroides spp., Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani.
Effective in relation to Staphylococcus spp., resistant to penicillin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, cephalosporins, in connection with which lincomycin can be considered as a drug reserve (only 30% Staphylococcus spp., resistant to erythromycin, have cross resistance to lincomycin).
Does not apply to Enterococcus spp. (incl. Enterococcus faecalis), gram-negative microorganisms, fungi, viruses, protozoa; is inferior in activity to erythromycin against spore forming anaerobes, Neisseria spp., Corynebacterium spp.)
The optimum action is in alkaline medium (pH 8-8.5).
Stability develops according to the penicillin type (slowly). In high doses has a bactericidal effect.