Bacitracin

What is Bacitracin?

• Bacitracin is a polypeptide antibiotic produced by spore-forming organisms belonging to the licheniformin group of the Bacillus subtilis with antibacterial activity.

Bacitracin3

Bacitracin ointment

Bacitracin 3D

Bacitracin ball-and-stick

What are the uses of this medicine?

• Ophthalmic bacitracin is used to treat bacterial infections of the eye.
• Bacitracin is used to help prevent minor skin injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and burns from becoming infected.

How does this medicine work?

• A complex of cyclic polypeptide antibiotics, mainly bacitracin A, produced by spore-forming organisms belonging to the licheniformin group of the Bacillus subtilis with antibacterial activity.
• Bacitracin binds to C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate, a biphosphate lipid transport molecule that carries the building blocks of the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall.
• The binding interferes with the enzymatic dephosphorylation of the C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate and prevents peptidoglycan synthesis, thereby inhibiting bacterial cell growth.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients:

• with a history of hypersensitivity to Bacitracin

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take.

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Bacitracin was approved by FDA in 1948.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage: For ocular infections:

• The ointment should be applied directly into the conjunctival sac 1 to 3 times daily.

For minor skin injuries:

• Clean the affected area
• Apply a small amount of this product (an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger) on the area 1 to 3 times daily
• May be covered with a sterile bandage

Administration: Bacitracin topical:

• Bacitracin comes as an ointment to apply to the skin. It is usually used one to three times a day.
• Bacitracin ointment is available without a prescription.
• This medication is for use only on the skin. Do not let bacitracin get into your eyes, nose, or mouth and do not swallow it.
• You may use bacitracin to treat minor skin injuries. However, you should not use this medication to treat deep cuts, puncture wounds, animal bites, serious burns, or any injuries that affect large areas of your body.
• Do not apply this medication to a child's diaper area, especially if the skin surface is broken or raw, unless told to do so by a doctor. If you are told to apply it to a child's diaper area, do not use tightly fitting diapers or plastic pants.

Bacitracin opthalamic:

• Ophthalmic bacitracin comes as an ointment to apply to the eyes.
• It is usually applied one to three times a day.
• Use ophthalmic bacitracin until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As an ointment

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Cortisporin® (containing Bacitracin Zinc, Hydrocortisone, Neomycin, Polymyxin B Sulfates)
• Ocu-Cort® (containing Bacitracin Zinc, Hydrocortisone, Neomycin, Polymyxin B Sulfates)
• Polysporin® (containing Bacitracin Zinc, Polymyxin B Sulfates)
• Baciguent (topical Bacitracin)

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• itching
• rash
• hives
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• burning of the eye
• stinging

What special precautions should I follow?

Do not use Bacitracin topical:

• in the eyes
• over large areas of the body
• if you are allergic to any of the ingredients

Ask a doctor before use of Bacitracin topical if you have:

• deep or puncture wounds
• animal bites
• serious burns

Stop use of Bacitracin topical and ask a doctor if:

• you need to use longer than 1 week
• condition persists or gets worse
• rash or other allergic reaction develops

• Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment should not be used in deep-seated ocular infections or in those that are likely to become systemic.
• The prolonged use of antibiotic containing preparations may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms particularly fungi.
• If new infections develop during treatment appropriate antibiotic or chemotherapy should be instituted.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

• In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.
• If you become pregnant while using bacitracin eye ointment, call your doctor.

Can this medicine be used in children?

For children under 2 years old:

• ask a doctor

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

Active:

• bacitracin

Inactives:

• light mineral oil
• petrolatum

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Bacitracin ophthalmic Manufactured for:

• Fera Pharmaceuticals, LLC
• Locust Valley, NY

Bacitracin topical packager:

• Dynarex Corporation

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store at controlled room temperature 15°-30° C (59°-86° F).

• Dailymed label info on Bacitracin
• FDA Bacitracin

Bacitracin Resources
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