[Lincosamide antibiotics]

A survey of microbiological and pharmacological properties of, of clinical experience with and of untoward reactions of lincomycin and clindamycin has been presented. Both antibiotics are active against gram-positive aerobic and many anaerobic bacteria. As to anti-anaerobic activity, clindamycin is superior to lincomycin. Consequently, anaerobic infections are main indication for clindamycin in clinical practice. On the other hand, lincomycin shows excellent penetration into body fluids and tissues and its dosage can be adapted to actual clinical situation in a very wide range. Recently, combinations of clindamycin with other drugs have proved effective in the treatment of falciparum malaria as well as of acute toxoplasmosis and Pneumocystis pneumonia in AIDS patients. Both lincomycin and clindamycin play still an important role in chemotherapy of infections.