Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin

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Neosporin
Combination of
Polymyxin B sulfate Antibiotic
Neomycin sulfate Antibiotic
Bacitracin zinc Antibiotic
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
Licence data US FDA:link
Pregnancy
category
  • C
Legal status
Routes of
administration		 Topical
Identifiers
ChemSpider 10481985 YesY
  (verify)

Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin sold under the brand name Neosporin among others, is an antibiotic cream that contains neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin. It is used to prevent infections.[1]

Medical uses

Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin ointment is reported to be a safe and effective topical agent for preventing infections in minor skin trauma.[2]

Neosporin is recommended for burns, scratches, cuts, and minor skin infections.[3] It is most effective when affected area is cleaned before application of ointment.[4]

Efficacy

One study showed no evidence that covering a small wound with neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin provided any benefit greater than that of simple petroleum jelly (although this study admits the sample size was relatively small),[5] while other studies showed that minor wounds treated with neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin had a decreased rate of infection.[6]

Side effects

Neosporin is for external use only and should not go near mucus membranes such as the eyes or mouth. Neosporin is not recommended for children under the age of two. There are no known side effects when using Neosporin, however users should immediately seek medical attention when experiencing hives, rashes, or itching. Any skin irritations such as pain, burning, or cracked skin that were not present prior to use of ointment must receive immediate care.[7]

Concern exists that the use of Neosporin contributes to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the US, the only large market for Neosporin, the ointment may promote the prevalence of MRSA bacteria,[8] specifically the highly lethal ST8:USA300 strain.[9] Neosporin has been shown to cause contact dermatitis[10] in some cases, and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.[11][12]

Components

The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, in a relatively low-molecular-weight patented base of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, sodium pyruvate, tocopheryl acetate, and petroleum jelly.

The generic name for these products, regardless of the base, is "triple antibiotic ointment". In China, this product is called "complex polymyxin B ointment," which is manufactured by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical. The product was also marketed by the Upjohn Company under the name "Mycitracin", until 1997 when that name was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.[13]

Some people have allergic reactions to neomycin, so a "double antibiotic ointment" is sold that contains only bacitracin and polymyxin B, such as the cobrand Polysporin.

A "Plus" variant of the ointment exists that adds the analgesic pramoxine, but uses the cheap, simple, long-lasting, but heavier petroleum jelly base common to many over-the-counter topicals. The latest version of this, a high-absorption cream, removes the bacitracin, which is unstable in such a base, but keeps the analgesic.

Active ingredients

The four main active ingredients in Neosporin are neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, pramoxine, and bacitracin. One of the main components of Neosporin is Neomycin Sulfate which is a type of antibiotic discovered in 1949 by microbiologist Selman Waksman at Rutgers University.[14] Neomycin is a type of aminoglycoside antibiotic that fights against Gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Neomycin is often used in order to prevent risk of bacterial infections.[15] Aminoglycosides such as Neomycin are known for their ability to bind to RNA and to change the proteins being produced by the bacteria with little to no effect on DNA. Neomycin kills bacteria as a result of irregular protein production in the bacterial cell. When the cell can no longer produce the correct proteins, its membrane will be damaged.[16] Like Neomycin, Polymyxin B is an antibiotic. Polymyxin B alters the bacterial cell wall causing the cellular insides to leak out resulting in cell death. This antibiotic also interferes with the production of tetrahydrofolic acid by altering an enzyme. Without the tetrahydrofolic acid, the bacteria can no longer produce proteins necessary for survival.[17] Pramoxine is used to temporarily reduce pain from burns, insect bites, and minor cuts. It works like an anesthetic by decreasing the permeability of neuron membranes. This blocks the ability of pain neurons in the area to send signals which results in numbness.[18] The Vitamin E contained in Neosporin is known to speed up the recovery of injured skin tissue. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects and repairs skin. Antioxidants do this by neutralizing free radicals and preventing cellular damage from occurring. Vitamin E is a very strong antioxidant that can also help prevent the formation of scars.[19]

In some countries bacitracin is replaced with Gramicidin.

History

Neosporin
Product type Antibiotic
Owner Johnson & Johnson
Introduced 1952
Related brands Polysporin
Markets US and Canada
Previous owners Pfizer
Website neosporin.com

Neosporin is the brand name for a product produced by Johnson & Johnson that contains neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, and bacitracin. There is no exact date to when the antibacterial ointment was invented, but it was used as early as the 1950s. This tetracycline type antibiotic ointment was patented in the United States on August 27, 1951.[20]

References

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  6. ↑ "Do topical antibiotics improve wound healing?" Diehr, Sabina; Hamp, Andrew; Jamieson, Barbara. Journal of Family Practice 56(2) 2007: 140+. Abstract: The use of topical triple-antibiotic ointments significantly decreases infection rates in minor contaminated wounds compared with a petrolatum control. Plain petrolatum ointment is equivalent to triple-antibiotic ointments for sterile wounds as a post-procedure wound dressing (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, based on randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/3613
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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