Nystatin is an antimycotic (anti fungal) of the polygene family, which was
discovered in 1950. Nystatin is mainly active against Candida Albicans,
which is a microorganism always present on the human skin and widely present
everywhere; only on particularly sensitive persons it develops into a mycosis,
which is a kind of local infection that may occur only on certain part of the
body (skin, mouth, vagina, esophagus).
Nystatin is a product which is not absorbed by the organism but its
therapeutically effect is only local, also when it is taken orally the effect
is only on the external part of the entertain, and has no systemic effect,
only topical and genealogical. The pharmaceutical forms of Nystatin are
therefore mostly for topical use (cream, ointment, lotions, chewable tabs,
vaginal tabs)
Recently Nystatin has been used widely for treatment of AIDS patients, which
are usually affected by all kind of “opportunistic” infections, including
mycosis. Due to the very low toxicity, in comparison with other more effective
anti fungal, Nystatin is a good application.
