bacitracin

[ bas-i-trey-sin ]

nounPharmacology.
  1. an antibiotic polypeptide derived by the hydrolytic action of Bacillus subtilis on protein, primarily used topically in the treatment of superficial infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive organisms.

Origin of bacitracin

1
1940–45; baci(llus) + Trac(ey), misspelled surname of Margaret Treacy (1936–94), American child whose tissues were found to contain Bacillus subtilis + -in2

Words Nearby bacitracin

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British Dictionary definitions for bacitracin

bacitracin

/ (ˌbæsɪˈtreɪsɪn) /


noun
  1. an antibiotic used mainly in treating bacterial skin infections: obtained from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis

Origin of bacitracin

1
C20: baci (llus) + -trac- from Margaret Tracy (born 1936), American girl in whose blood Bacillus subtilis was found; see -in

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