CAGANDA, CLARISSSE ANNE S.

2A-PHARMACY NYSTATIN

Nystatin belongs to the group of medications known as antifungals, under Polyenes. Nystatin is a polyene antifungal antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces nursei.It was discovered in 1950 by Elizabeth Lee Hazen and Rachel Fuller Brown, who were doing research for the Division of Laboratories and Research of the New York State Department of Health. Hazen and Brown named nystatin after the New York State Health Department Laboratory (now known as the Wadsworth Center) in 1954. Nystatin comes as a tablet, capsule, and a liquid to take by mouth; a soft lozenge (pastille) to be dissolved slowly in the mouth; a tablet and vaginal cream to be inserted into the vagina; and in powder, ointment, and cream to be applied to the skin.

Mechanism of Action
Nystatin, as a polyene, acts by binding to sterols in the cell membrane of susceptible species resulting in a change in membrane permeability and the subsequent leakage of intracellular components. This increases the membrane permeability and leads to cell death.

Treatment
Nystatin is an antibiotic which is both fungistatic and fungicidal in vitro against a wide variety of yeasts and yeast-like fungi, including Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis,

C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondi, C. pseudotropicalis, C. krusei, Torulopsis glabrata, Tricophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes.

Nystatin Resistance
On repeated subculturing with increasing levels of nystatin, Candida albicans does not develop resistance to nystatin. Generally, resistance to nystatin does not develop during therapy. However, other species of Candida (C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondi, C. krusei, and C. stellatoides) become quite resistant on treatment with nystatin and simultaneously become cross resistant to amphotericin as well. This resistance is lost when the antibiotic is removed. Nystatin exhibits no appreciable activity against bacteria, protozoa, or viruses.

References:
Bellis, Mary. (no date). Nystatin. Retrieved January http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blnystatin.htm 28, 2013 from:

Glenmark Generics. (2013). Nilstat, nystatin. Retrieved January 28, 2013 from: http://www.duanereade.com/health/DrugFactsheet.aspx?id=1492 Mycostatin. (2009). Retrieved January 28, 2013 from: http://www.rxlist.com/mycostatindrug/clinical-pharmacology.htm Nystatin Yeast Infection Treatment. (2013). Retrieved January 28, 2013 from: http://www.yeastinfectiontreatment.info/nystatin-yeast-infection-treatment/ Nystatin. (2010). Retrieved January 28, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a682758.html 2013 from:

Polyenes (2012). Retrieved January 28, 2013 from: http://www.drugs.com/drugclass/polyenes.html