EVALUATION OF BACITRACIN IN LOCAL TREATMENT OF PYOGENIC INFECTIONS

J. LOWRY MILLER, M.D.; MEYER H. SLATKIN, M.D.; BALBINA A. JOHNSON, A.B.

[+] Author Affiliations

The bacitracin used in this study was produced by the Commercial Solvents Corporation.

Read before the Section on Dermatology and Syphilology at the Ninety-Seventh Annual Session of the American Medical Association, Chicago, June 25, 1948.

NEW YORK

From the Department of Dermatology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Vanderbilt Clinic, and from the Department of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Arch Dermatol. 1949;60(1):106-120. doi:10.1001/archderm.1949.01530010109007

Text Size: A A A

Published online

Article

References

Comments

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

The need for safe and effective agents suitable for local therapy in pyogenic infections of the skin is obvious to all physicians. The sulfonamide compounds and penicillin have both proved effective for this purpose; but, unfortunately, with them sensitization occurs in 5 and 10 per cent of the cases, respectively. This often precludes subsequent parenteral administration of these agents in more serious illnesses and so is a drawback to their use in the less severe infections. In March 1948, we reported that the antibiotic bacitracin, in an ointment base, had proved an effective agent in our experience.¹ With the ointment used, refrigeration was necessary to maintain effectiveness.

The present report deals with our further study in the laboratory of the stability and release of bacitracin from various ointment bases kept at refrigerator and room temperatures and with clinical trial of the most promising bases kept at room temperatures during use by the patient.

The discovery of bacitracin by

REFERENCES

ABSTRACT | REFERENCES

Miller, J. L.; Slatkin, M. H., and Johnson, B. A.: Local Use of Bacitracin , J. Invest. Dermat. 10:179-188 ( (March) ) 1948;.

Johnson, B. A.; Anker, H., and Meleney, F. L.: A New Antibiotic Produced by a Member of the B. Subtilis Group , Science 102:376-377 ( (Oct. 12) ) 1945;.

Scudi, J. V.; Coret, I. A., and Antopol, W.: Some Pharmacological Characteristics of Bacitracin: III. Chronic Toxicity Studies of Commercial Bacitracin in the Dog and Monkey , Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 66:558-561 ( (Dec.) ) 1947;.

Meleney, F. L., and Johnson, B.: Bacitracin Therapy: The First Hundred Cases of Surgical Infections Treated Locally with the Antibiotic , J. A. M. A. 133:675-680 ( (March 8) ) 1947;.

Carbowax® compounds are polyethylene glycols of high molecular weight.

Lanette wax® is an approximately 10 per cent sulfated or phosphated mixture of cetyl and stearyl alcohols. Hydrosorb® is composed of fatty acid esters of diethanolamine with petrolatum U. S. P. Aquaphor® is an oxycholesterol-petrolatum ointment base.

Miller, J. L.; Rodriguez, J. J., and Domonkos, A. N.: Evaluation of Penicillin in Topical Therapy , New York State J. Med. 47:2316-2321 ( (Nov. 1) ) 1947;.

Miller, J. L.: Use of Sulfanilamide and Its Derivatives in Ointment Form: Local Treatment of Cutaneous Diseases , Arch. Dermat. & Syph. 46:379-385 ( (Sept.) ) 1942;.

Pillsbury, D. M.; Wammock, V. S.; Livingood, C. S., and Nichols, A. C.: The Local Treatment of Pyogenic Cutaneous Infections with Sulfathiazole in an Emulsion Base , Am. J. M. Sc. 202:808-822 ( (Dec.) ) 1941;.

Bandelin, F. J., and Kemp, C. R.: The Evaluation of Various Bases for Sulfonamide Ointments , J. Am. Pharm. A. 35:65-71 ( (March) ) 1946;.

Zheutlin, H. E. C., and Fox, C. L., Jr.: Use of Diffusion Rates in Evaluating Ointment Vehicles for Antibacterial Therapy, to be published.

First Page Preview

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal