Bacitracin Ointment

Our eyes remain susceptible to contract various bacterial infections. And one of the medications which serve as an antibiotic to deal with such conditions is the Bacitracin ointment. It is helpful in treating external eye infections, by curbing the bacterial growth and preventing it from spreading further. The ingredients of this ointment consist of a strain of the bacterial species Bacillus subtilis. The below description helps you understand how to use this ointment, what precautions must be followed before using it, and what are the possible side effects of this medication.

How to Apply Bacitracin Ointment

It is imperative that the recommended instructions are followed while using this antibiotic. Here are some steps that must be followed:

• Most eye infections happen to be contagious and can worsen easily without improper hygiene. So first of all, wash your hands with antibacterial hand-wash and pat dry. Then pull your lower eyelid down, using your index finger. Once you have done that, squeeze in some of the ointment into the eye, and keep your eye closed for a good 1 - 2 minutes. Do not forget to wash your hands again with the hand-wash.
• It is advisable to avoid the tip of the ointment from touching the eyes or the hands, lest it would be contaminated. So, after you are done using it, wipe the tip using a clean tissue.
• Experts say that the medicine works well when used at the same time everyday.

Side Effects of the Medicine

The common side effects which may occur after using the topical medicine include:

• Blurred vision of a low degree
• Skin rash
• Hives
• Swollen mouth, lips and tongue
• Face swelling and eyelids swelling.
• Redness of eyelids
• Eye pain

Considerations and Precautions

Expecting and nursing mothers must inform their healthcare provider before using the ointment. Also, other prescriptions and non-prescription medications may interact with Bacitracin, giving rise to worse sets of symptoms. In case the patient has some kind of allergy from foods, medicines or other substances, even then he must inform his doctor or healthcare provider about it. It is important that the full course of treatment is followed, otherwise, the infection may get resistant to the medicine thus, may get worse with time, and more difficult to treat. Even if the medicine works for the first time, you must always consult a doctor before applying it for future use.

Additional Information

Apart from treating a variety of eye infections, the Bacitracin ointment is also used for ear or bladder infections. What should be known is, this medicine is highly toxic and that is why it is used topically and not orally. For eyes, as described above, it is applied directly. In some cases, it is inhaled directly into the lungs, and there are extremely rare instances when it is given in the form of injection shots.

Speaking of the working mechanism of this ointment, there is this molecule that is known to form the building block of the cell wall of the bacteria. So what the medicine does is, it interferes with this very protein, thus helping in killing the organism and inhibiting its growth.

This medicine is also available in another form known as Bacitracin zinc salt. It is basically used in conjunction with other topical antibiotics to treat conditions of localized skin and wound infections. Most people use it as an after-care measures for tattoos.

Note that it is important to remember that the Bacitracin ointment is not meant for over-the-counter use, and works well only when used under the supervision of a medical practitioner.