Bacitracin

Empyema, Pink Eye, Pneumonia + 17 more

Treatment

20 Active Studies for Bacitracin

Treatment for

Empyema

What is Bacitracin

Bacitracin

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Bacitracin is a medication made up of several bacitracins, with 60-80% of it being bacitracin A. It was first discovered in 1945 from the knee wound of a child named Margaret Tracy. The FDA approved the use of Bacitracin in 1948. It is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Bacitracin

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Bacitracin Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Bacitracin

1948

Effectiveness

How Bacitracin Affects Patients

Bacitracin is a group of substances that stops the formation of the bacterial cell wall and breaks down DNA. This drug needs to be applied to the skin every 3 to 4 hours for it to work properly. If bacitracin is injected into a muscle, it can lead to kidney failure and other serious side effects.

How Bacitracin works in the body

Bacitracin binds to certain metals like manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, and zinc. It then prevents the breakdown of a lipid molecule in the cell wall, which stops the cell from being able to form new walls. It also binds to and breaks down DNA, which has an additional effect of stopping cell growth.

When to interrupt dosage

The advised dose of Bacitracin relies on the diagnosed condition, including prophylaxis of contamination in minor cuts, scours, or burns, Secondary Infection and Skin Ulcer. The amount of dosage is contingent upon the method of delivery (e.g. Topical or Cream - Topical) as outlined in the table below.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Acne Vulgaris

0.5 [USP'U]/mg, , 0.4 [USP'U]/mg, 0.5 [iU]/mg, 0.4 [iU]/mg, 0.0004 mg/mg, 5000.0 [iU]/mL, 50000.0 [USP'U], 0.4 units/mg, 0.5 units/mg, 400.0 [USP'U], 0.4178 [iU]/mg, 0.6 [USP'U]/mg, 50000.0 units, 1.25 %, 5000.0 [USP'U]/mL, 50000.0 [iU], 0.04 units/mg, 0.0041 mg/mg, 0.0051 mg/mg, 5000.0 units/mL, 0.0486 mg/hour, 400.0 mg/mg, 0.005 [USP'U]/mg, 1.0 mg, 6.0 mg/mL, 400.0 mg/mL, 1.2 [USP'U]/mg, 0.8 [iU]/mg, 0.00048 mg/mg, 0.25 units/mg, 0.065 units/mg, 5.0 units/mg, 500.0 units/mL, 0.05 units/mg

Ointment - Topical, Topical, , Ointment, Ointment - Ophthalmic, Ophthalmic, Liquid - Topical, Liquid, Intramuscular, Injection, powder, for solution - Intramuscular, Injection, powder, for solution, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution - Intramuscular, Injection, powder, lyophilized, for solution, Stick - Topical, Powder - Topical, Spray - Topical, Spray, Powder, for solution - Intramuscular; Topical, Intramuscular; Topical, Powder, for solution, Cream, Cream - Topical, Powder, Injection, Injection - Intramuscular, Kit, Kit - Topical, Gel - Topical, Ointment - Ophthalmic; Topical, Stick, Lozenge, Oral, Gel, Swab - Topical, Ophthalmic; Topical, Ointment; Swab - Topical, Oral; Topical, Kit - Oral; Topical, Lozenge - Oral, Swab, Ointment; Swab, Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Topical, Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Topical, Kit - Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Ophthalmic, Kit - Ophthalmic; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Ophthalmic; Topical, Kit - Ophthalmic; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Electro-osmosis, Ophthalmic; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Electro-osmosis, Ophthalmic; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Cutaneous, Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Irrigation; Ophthalmic; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Irrigation; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Patch - Cutaneous, Patch, Kit - Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Irrigation; Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Kit - Ophthalmic; Oral; Topical, Ophthalmic; Oral; Topical, Kit - Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Oral; Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Respiratory (inhalation); Topical, Cream; Kit; Liquid; Ointment; Tablet; Tablet, chewable; Tablet, film coated, Cream; Kit; Liquid; Ointment; Tablet; Tablet, chewable; Tablet, film coated - Oral; Topical

Pneumonia

Infection

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Wound Infection

Ocular Inflammatory Disease

Bacterial Infections

Keratoconjunctivitis

Blepharoconjunctivitis

prophylaxis of infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns

infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns

Coinfection

Empyema

Pink Eye

Skin Diseases

Blepharitis

Wound

Eye Infections

Skin Ulcer

Inflammation

Warnings

Bacitracin has one contraindication, so it must not be consumed with any of the conditions specified in the table below.

Bacitracin Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions

Do Not Combine

Bacitracin may interact with Pulse Frequency

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Bacitracin.

Common Bacitracin Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Tenofovir

Major

Bacitracin may increase the nephrotoxic activities of Tenofovir.

Tenofovir alafenamide

Major

Bacitracin may increase the nephrotoxic activities of Tenofovir alafenamide.

Tenofovir disoproxil

Major

Bacitracin may increase the nephrotoxic activities of Tenofovir disoproxil.

Vibrio cholerae CVD 103-HgR strain live antigen

Major

The therapeutic efficacy of Vibrio cholerae CVD 103-HgR strain live antigen can be decreased when used in combination with Bacitracin.

Abacavir

Minor

Bacitracin may decrease the excretion rate of Abacavir which could result in a higher serum level.

Bacitracin Toxicity & Overdose Risk

The lowest toxic dose of bacitracin in rats is greater than 2000mg/kg. Limited information is available regarding bacitracin overdoses, but it may result in kidney damage. If a person has overdosed on bacitracin, supportive measures should be taken.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Bacitracin Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Bacitracin?

128 active trials are currently underway to assess the potential of Bacitracin to remediate Bacterial infections, Keratoconjunctivitis and Wound healing.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Acne Vulgaris

0 Actively Recruiting

infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns

0 Actively Recruiting

Blepharitis

0 Actively Recruiting

prophylaxis of infection in minor cuts, scrapes, or burns

0 Actively Recruiting

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

6 Actively Recruiting

Phase 1, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 2

Empyema

1 Actively Recruiting

Phase 4

Bacterial Infections

0 Actively Recruiting

Pink Eye

0 Actively Recruiting

Skin Diseases

0 Actively Recruiting

Ocular Inflammatory Disease

0 Actively Recruiting

Pneumonia

16 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Early Phase 1, Phase 2

Keratoconjunctivitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Infection

6 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 1

Blepharoconjunctivitis

0 Actively Recruiting

Inflammation

0 Actively Recruiting

Wound Infection

0 Actively Recruiting

Wound

9 Actively Recruiting

Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Not Applicable

Skin Ulcer

2 Actively Recruiting

Phase 2, Not Applicable

Eye Infections

0 Actively Recruiting

Coinfection

0 Actively Recruiting

Bacitracin Reviews: What are patients saying about Bacitracin?

Patient Review

5/1/2017

Bacitracin for Minor Skin Infection caused by Bacteria

This stuff is amazing! I had a really bad infection in my belly button piercing, and within two days it was almost completely gone.

Patient Review

12/9/2013

Bacitracin for Minor Skin Infection caused by Bacteria

The antibiotic ointment worked well for me and I would recommend it to others.

Patient Review

2/27/2008

Bacitracin for Minor Skin Infection caused by Bacteria

This is a great medication for minor irritations.

image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about bacitracin

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

What kind of antibiotic is bacitracin?

"Bacitracin is an antibiotic made up of a few different cyclic peptides. It was first discovered in 1945 when scientists were studying Bacillus licheniformis bacteria. They found that this antibiotic disrupts Gram-positive bacteria by interfering with the cell wall and peptidoglycan synthesis."

Answered by AI

Is bacitracin the same as Neosporin?

"Are bacitracin and Neosporin the same?

No, bacitracin and Neosporin are not the same. Bacitracin contains only one antibiotic, called bacitracin. Neosporin contains three antibiotics—bacitracin, along with polymyxin and neomycin. Both medications are used topically to prevent infection."

Answered by AI

Can I buy bacitracin over the counter?

"There are three different types of over-the-counter antibiotic ointments that you can use to help treat or prevent infection for minor cuts or scrapes. Those three types are Polysporin (bacitracin/polymyxin B), Neosporin (bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B), and bacitracin."

Answered by AI

Why you should not use bacitracin?

"If bacitracin is injected, it may cause pain or a rash at the injection site. It can also cause nausea, vomiting, and kidney or bone marrow failure. People who are sensitive to neomycin, another antibiotic that is used on the skin, may also be sensitive to bacitracin."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Bacitracin

Image of Children's of Alabama in Birmingham, United States.

Antibiotic Duration for Infections in Children

60 - 17

All Sexes

Birmingham, AL

Infections like pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infection (also called SSTI or cellulitis), and urinary tract infections (UTI) are some of the most common reasons children get admitted to the hospital. All three of these conditions require antibiotics for treatment. Although antibiotics are needed to treat the infection and help children feel better, taking them longer than needed can negatively impact children and their families. Negative impacts include things like the burdens of taking more medications and medication side effects. There are guidelines (instructions) from expert medical organizations that suggest the number of days children need antibiotics, but they give a wide range (between 5 and 14 days). Unfortunately, these guidelines are not based on high-quality studies. National data suggests that doctors often choose on the higher end of this range when writing prescriptions for children in the hospital. Our three caregiver co-investigators, other parents of hospitalized children, doctors, other care providers, and researchers, all believe that additional study is needed to determine the best length of antibiotic treatment that weighs both the benefits and harms of antibiotics. The goal of our study is to understand if 5 total days of antibiotic treatment compared to 10 total days of antibiotic treatment is better for children who have been in the hospital for pneumonia, SSTI, or UTI. We will study this question through a randomized control trial. In other words, half of the children will receive 5-days of antibiotics and the other half will receive 10-days of antibiotics. Children in this study (and their caregivers) will not know how many days of antibiotics they will receive to cure their infection because some children will take a placebo (or a pill without antibiotics in it). Only the pharmacy will know if a child is getting antibiotic or placebo (for days 6-10 of treatment). During the first phase of the trial (feasibility phase), 4 hospitals will enroll children in the study. We plan on enrolling 50 patients during this phase. We are starting with just 4 hospitals, so our study team can create and update our study plans if needed. We will closely review information about how many patients and families agree to participate, and if they have any trouble completing any part of the study. We will also interview families to understand the choice to participate in the study, the choice not to participate in the study, and what it is like to be in the study. During the second study phase, we will enroll 1150 more patients across all 11 hospitals. Families will complete short, daily surveys until the 15th day after they started antibiotics, then a larger survey at day 15, at day 20, and at day 30. These surveys will ask about the child's symptoms and recovery from their illness, how the antibiotics are making them feel, and if they had to go back to their doctor, emergency room, or hospital. The answers to these questions will be combined to measure how well the child did, balancing feeling better and having bad effects from the antibiotics. We will use mathematical tests to determine which antibiotic duration is better for treating these illnesses. We will complete other mathematical tests to see if all children should receive the same length of antibiotics or if certain children should be prescribed shorter courses and others longer courses.

Phase 4

Waitlist Available

New This Month

Children's of Alabama (+9 Sites)

Sunitha V Kaiser, MD, MSc