Neosporin

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Neosporin

Neosporin (from Neo, (Greek) new + Sporos, (Greek) seed) is the product name of an antibiotic

Antibiotic

In common usage, an antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics belong to the group of antimicrobial compounds used to treat infections caused by microorganisms, including fungus and protozoa....
ointment produced by Pfizer

Pfizer

Pfizer Incorporated is a major pharmaceutical company, ranking number one in sales in the world. The company is based in New York City, and its research headquarters is in Groton, Connecticut....
(later sold to Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is a global United States pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
) used in the prevention of infection

Infection

An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host resources to multiply ....
and speeding the healing of wound

Wound

In medicine, a wound is a type of injury in which the skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force physical trauma causes a bruise . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin....
s. The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin

Bacitracin

Bacitracin is a mixture of related cyclic peptides produced by organisms of the licheniformis group of Bacillus subtilis var Tracy, isolation of which was first reported in 1945....
, neomycin

Neomycin

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is found in many topical medications such as creams, ointments and eyedrops....
, and polymyxin B

Polymyxin B

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Neosporin'

Start a new discussion about 'Neosporin'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Neosporin (from Neo, (Greek) new + Sporos, (Greek) seed) is the product name of an antibiotic

Antibiotic

Pfizer

Johnson & Johnson

Infection

Wound

Bacitracin

Neomycin

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is found in many topical medications such as creams, ointments and eyedrops....
, and polymyxin B

Polymyxin B

Polymyxin B is an antibiotic primarily used for resistant gram negative infections. Polymyxins bind to the cell membrane and alter its structure making it more permeable....
. Other brand names for this mixture include Mycitracin and Topisporin. The generic drug name for this mixture is "Triple antibiotic ointment". In China, this product is called "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment" which is manufactured by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical.

Neomycin and polymyxin are effective in killing gram-negative

Gram-negative

Gram-negative bacteria are those bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color....
bacteria, while bacitracin targets gram-positive

Gram-positive

Gram-positive Bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink....
bacteria; hence, this 'triple antibiotic' ointment covers for a wide range of bacteria which may infect wounds.

However, these antibiotics are generally only used topical

Route of administration

In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the path by which a medication, fluid, poison or other substance is brought into contact with the body....
ly, because they are known for causing serious side effects (such as nephrotoxicity

Nephrotoxicity

Nephrotoxicity is a poisonous effect of some substances, both toxic chemicals and medication, on the kidney. There are various forms of toxicity....
) when used parenteral

Route of administration

In pharmacology and toxicology, a route of administration is the path by which a medication, fluid, poison or other substance is brought into contact with the body....
ly. Even when used topically, the antibiotic ointment may cause side effects; in particular, neomycin is well-known for causing allergic reactions such as allergic contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis or Irritant dermatitis is a term for a skin reaction resulting from exposure to allergens or Irritation . Phototoxic dermatitis occurs when the allergen or irritant is activated by sunlight....
. Commonly, though harmlessly, Neosporin tends to exaggerate the pain of abrasions and external injuries.

Neosporin is also used as a brand name for several other U.S. products that do not contain neomycin.

Pfizer also produces a related mixture of bacitracin and polymyxin, branded Polysporin. Because neomycin is not included in Polysporin, Polysporin may be safely used in individuals with allergies to neomycin. Recently, Pfizer also introduced "Neosporin + Pain Relief," ointment and cream, containing pramoxine, a topical analgesic

Analgesic

An analgesic is any member of the diverse group of Medication used to relieve pain . The word analgesic derives from Greek an- and algos ....
. In addition to its pain relieving properties, the cream (which omits the bacitracin zinc, as it is not stable in the cream base) appears useful in individuals sensitive to bacitracin, as well as those sensitive to zinc. The "Maximum Strength Neosporin + Pain Relief" formula contains bacitracin, neomycin, polymyxin B, and pramoxine HCl.

In Canada and Australia, the Neosporin brand is not sold at all, but Polysporin is sold in several varieties. The "original" ointments contain polymyxin B

Polymyxin B

Gramicidin

Gramicidin is a heterogeneous mixture of six antibiotic compounds, Gramicidins A, B and C, making up 80%, 6%,and 14% respectively, all of which are obtained from the soil bacterial species Bacillus brevis and called collectively Gramicidin D....
. A "triple" ointment is also available containing all three of the above antibiotics.

Although available in the US, Canada, India and numerous other countries, Neosporin is not available over the counter in the UK.

Neosporin

External links