colistin

American  

[kuh-lis-tin] / kəˈlɪs tɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a toxic antibiotic polypeptide, C 45 H 85 O 10 N 13 , produced by the bacterium Bacillus colistinus, used in sulfate form against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and in the treatment of severe gastroenteritis.

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Etymology

Origin of colistin

1950–55; < New Latin colistinus epithet for a variety of Bacillus polymyxa, equivalent to coli- ( see coliform) + -stinus, apparently an arbitrarily chosen suffix; cf. -in ²

Example Sentences

Colistin is an old antibiotic that’s considered the last line of defense against certain infections, including those that are resistant to carbapenems, another last-resort class of antibiotics.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2023

Colistin is regarded as a last-resort antibiotic in the treatment of multi-drug-resistant, gram-negative bacteria.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Colistin is still used to treat infections in livestock in other countries, such as China and India.

From Washington Times • Jan. 15, 2022

Although KPC is still susceptible to an old and quite toxic antibiotic, Colistin, in Florence, this year more than 50% of KPC cases proved resistant to Colistin.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2014

For example, some doctors, in extreme cases, are again using Colistin, an older antibiotic that was largely abandoned years ago because of the damage it can cause the liver.

From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2013