Definition

1. Noun:
   • An antifungal and antibiotic medication: Nystatin is a pharmaceutical substance used to treat fungal infections. It belongs to the polyene class of antifungals and is particularly effective against Candida species.

Usage

• Nystatin is primarily used to treat fungal infections, especially those caused by yeast. Common formulations include oral suspensions for thrush and topical creams or ointments for skin infections.
• It is typically prescribed by a healthcare professional and is not used for bacterial infections.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed nystatin to treat the infant's oral thrush.
  • Nystatin is often used in combination with other medications for certain types of dermatitis.

Advanced Usage

• "Nystatin suspension": A liquid form of the medication, commonly swished in the mouth and swallowed to treat infections in the esophagus or intestines.
  • The patient was instructed to use the nystatin suspension four times a day after meals.

Variants and Related Words

• Mycostatin (n): A common trade name for nystatin.
• Nystan (n): Another trade name for nystatin, used in some regions.

Synonyms

• Antifungal agent: A general term for a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of fungi.
• Polyene antibiotic: A class of antimicrobial compounds which includes nystatin.

Notes on Meaning

• The word "nystatin" is a proper noun derived from "New York State" + "-in" (a common suffix for substances), reflecting its discovery location. It refers specifically to this chemical compound and is not used in a general sense.

Noun

1. an antifungal and antibiotic (trade names Mycostatin and Nystan) discovered in New York State; derived from soil fungi actinomycetes