bacitracin

[ bas-i-trey-sin ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Pharmacology.

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.

bacitracin

/ ˌbæsɪˈtreɪsɪn /

noun

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

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bacitracin¹

1940–45; baci(llus) + Trac(ey), misspelled surname of Margaret Treacy (1936–94), American child whose tissues were found to contain Bacillus subtilis + -in ²

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Word History and Origins

Origin of bacitracin¹

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

Bacillus thuringiensis back

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