Lincosamides

Clindamycin is a lincosamide antibiotic medication used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections, including osteomyelitis (bone) or joint infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, strep throat, pneumonia, acute otitis media (middle ear infections), and endocarditis. It can also be used to treat acne, and some cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In combination with quinine, it can be used to treat malaria. It is available by mouth, by injection into a vein, and as a cream or a gel to be applied to the skin or in the vagina.

Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that comes from the actinomycete Streptomyces lincolnensis. A related compound, clindamycin, is derived from lincomycin by using thionyl chloride to replace the 7-hydroxy group with a chlorine atom with inversion of chirality. It was released for medical use in September 1964.

thumb|Lincomycin thumb|Clindamycin (note chlorine atom compared to lincomycin) Lincosamides are a class of antibiotics, which include lincomycin, clindamycin, and pirlimycin.

Pirlimycin, sold under the brand name Pirsue, is used in the treatment of mastitis in cattle. It is used as the salt pirlimycin hydrochloride and it belongs to the lincosamide class of antimicrobials. __TOC__