Talk:Bacitracin

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Recently heard of bacitracin being applied to the inside of the nostrils for treatment of chronic Staph (aureus) infection -- specifically methicillin resistant staph. Anybody qualified to comment?

Bactroban is, I think, more commonly used to reduce nasal carriage of MRSA, usually in hospital or nursing home staff, but certainly Bacitracin is also used. This isn't treatment of an infection: it's a means of reducing colonization of the nares in order to prevent spread to individuals likely to develop infection. - Nunh-huh 00:03, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Indications for Bacitracin?

Bacitracin has the same basic mechanism of action as vancomycin (i.e. it inhibits peptioglycan synthesis)... but does anyone know what its spectrum of activity is? Vancomycin only works on gram positive bacteria. Is bacitracin the same? Cajolingwilhelm 03:28, 17 May 2007 (UTC)

Bacitracin has the most profound effect (in vitro) on Gram-positives and a 'few' gram negatives (couldn't find a list). Only systemic Staph infections qualify for consideration of a non-topical (parenteral) use of Bacitracin and this requires a pre-administration check of renal function and daily renal labs during use. Hope that helps. (Ref: Physicians desk reference, 54th edition, 2000. pg 2227) BruceD270 14:59, 23 September 2007 (UTC)