II. Indications
- Minor open wounds
- Burn Injury
- Skin Abrasions
- Hordeolum
III. Mechanism
- Bacitracin A (and other cyclic polypeptides) are produced by spore forming Bacillus subtilis (licheniformin group)
- Bacitracin inhibits carrier (C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate) transporting Bacterial cell wall precursors across Bacterial plasma membrane
- Blocks peptidoglycan synthesis and Bacterial cell wall construction
- Covers typical Gram Positive Bacteria on the skin (includes MSSA)
- May speed Wound Healing (retains moisture within the wound, preventing eschar)
- When antibiotics are not indicated, consider bland topicals (e.g. aquaphor) instead
- Bacitracin Zinc is preferred over "triple antibiotic" (Neomycin/polymyxin B/Bacitracin)
- Triple Antibiotic ointment has a greater risk of Contact Dermatitis, without significant added benefit
IV. Dosing
- Apply one to three times daily
V. Adverse Effects
VI. Resources
- Bacitracin Ointment (DailyMed)
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Related Studies
| bacitracin (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing) | ||
| BACITRACIN 500 UNIT/GM OINTMNT | Generic OTC | $0.07 per gram |
| BACITRACIN 500 UNIT/GM OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT | Generic | $30.53 per gram |
| BACITRACIN ZN 500 UNIT/GM OINT | Generic OTC | $0.07 per gram |
| BACITRACIN-POLYMYXIN EYE OINT | Generic | $2.64 per gram |