ANTIBIOTICS, TOPICAL
Topical Antibiotics are
medicines applied to the skin to kill bacteria.
Purpose
Topical Antibiotics help prevent infections caused by bacteria that
get into minor cuts, scrapes, and burns. Treating minor wounds with
Antibiotics allows quicker healing. If the wounds are left
untreated, the bacteria will multiply, causing pain, redness,
swelling, itching, and oozing. Untreated infections can eventually
spread and become much more serious.
Different kinds of Topical Antibiotics kill different kinds of
bacteria. Many antibiotic first-aid products contain combinations of
antibiotics to make them effective against a broad range of
bacteria.
When treating a wound, it is not enough to simply apply a Topical
Antibiotic. The wound must first be cleaned with soap and water and
patted dry. After the antibiotic is applied, the wound should be
covered with a dressing, such as a bandage or a protective gel or
spray. For many years, it was thought that wounds heal best when
exposed to the air. But now most experts say it is best to keep
wounds clean and moist while they heal. The covering should still
allow some air to reach the wound, however.
Description
Some topical antibiotics are available without a prescription and
are sold in many forms, including creams, ointments, powders, and
sprays. Some widely used topical antibiotics are Bacitracin,
Neomycin, Mupirocin and Polymyxin B. Among the products that contain
one or more of these ingredients are Bactroban (a prescription
item), Neosporin, Polysporin, and Triple antibiotic Ointment or
Cream.
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