an antibiotic used mainly in treating bacterial skin infections: obtained from the bacterium Bacillus subtilis
Word origin
C20: baci(llus) + -trac- from Margaret Tracy (born 1936), American girl in whose blood Bacillus subtilis was found; see -in
bacitracin in American English
(ˌbæsɪˈtreɪsɪn)
US
noun
an antibiotic obtained from a strain of bacteria (Bacillus subtilis) and used in the treatment of certain bacterial infections, esp. of the body surfaces
Word origin
arbitrary blend < bacillus + (Margaret) Trac(y), name of Am girl (1936-94) from whose wounds the strain was isolated + -in1