Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin

Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin
Squeeze tube of triple antibiotic ointment
Combination of
Polymyxin B sulfateAntibiotic
Neomycin sulfateAntibiotic
Bacitracin zincAntibiotic
Clinical data
Trade namesNeosporin, others
AHFS/Drugs.comProfessional Drug Facts
MedlinePlusa601098
License data
Routes of
administration		Topical, eye drops
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • US: OTC / Rx-only
Identifiers
CAS Number
ChemSpider
KEGG
  (verify)

Neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin, also known as triple antibiotic ointment, is an antibiotic medication used to reduce the risk of infections following minor skin injuries.[1][2] It contains the three antibiotics neomycin, polymyxin B, and bacitracin.[1] It is for topical use.[3][4]

Possible side effects include itchiness and skin rash,[5] and in rare cases hearing loss.[5] It is relatively broad spectrum, being effective against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.[2]

The combination is available over the counter in the US and Canada.[5] In 2021, it was the 376th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 25,000 prescriptions.[6]

  1. ^ a b "neomycin, bacitracin, polymyxin B ointment". dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. US: National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and bacitracin zinc ophthalmic ointment" (PDF). FDA.gov. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid17914912 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Zintel HA, Ma RA (October 1949). "The absorption, distribution, excretion and toxicity of bacitracin in man". The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 218 (4): 439–445. doi:10.1097/00000441-194910000-00012. PMID 18140540. S2CID 2371497.
  5. ^ a b c "Neomycin, polymyxin b, and bacitracin Topical Advanced Patient Information". Drugs.com. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Bacitracin; Neomycin; Polymyxin B - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.