Lincomycin is a lincosamide antibiotic that comes from the actinomyces Streptomyces lincolnensis. A related compound, clindamycin, is derived from lincomycin by using thionyl chlorid to replace the 7-hydroxy group with a chlorin atom with inversion of chirality. 
 
Although similar in structure, antibacterial spectrum, and mechanism of action to macrolides, lincomycin is also effective against other organisms including actinomycetes, mycoplasma, and some species of Plasmodium. Intramuscular administration of a single dose of 600 mg of Lincomycin produces average peak serum levels of 11.6 micrograms/ml at 60 minutes, and maintains therapeutic levels for 17 to 20 hours, for most susceptible gram-positive organisms. Urinary excretion after this dose ranges from 1.8 to 24.8 percent (mean: 17.3 percent).