Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: BACITRACIN NEOMYCIN POLYMYXIN versus BACITRACIN ZINC NEOMYCIN SULFATE POLYMYXIN B SULFATE.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: BACITRACIN NEOMYCIN POLYMYXIN versus BACITRACIN ZINC NEOMYCIN SULFATE POLYMYXIN B SULFATE.
BACITRACIN-NEOMYCIN-POLYMYXIN vs BACITRACIN ZINC-NEOMYCIN SULFATE-POLYMYXIN B SULFATE
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Bacitracin inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by interfering with dephosphorylation of the lipid carrier that transports peptidoglycan precursors. Neomycin and polymyxin B are aminoglycoside and polypeptide antibiotics, respectively; neomycin binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of mRNA and inhibiting protein synthesis, while polymyxin B disrupts bacterial cell membrane integrity by interacting with lipopolysaccharides and phospholipids, leading to increased permeability and cell death.
Bacitracin zinc inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by interfering with dephosphorylation of the lipid carrier that transports peptidoglycan precursors. Neomycin sulfate and polymyxin B sulfate are aminoglycoside and polypeptide antibiotics, respectively; neomycin binds to 30S ribosomal subunit and causes misreading of mRNA, while polymyxin B disrupts bacterial cell membrane permeability by interacting with phospholipids.
Apply topically to affected area 2-5 times daily.
Apply topically (ointment or cream) to affected area 1-3 times daily. For ophthalmic use, instill 1-2 drops into affected eye(s) every 3-4 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
Bacitracin: 1.5 hours (prolonged in renal impairment); Neomycin: 2-3 hours (accumulates with renal dysfunction); Polymyxin B: 6-9 hours (increased in renal impairment).
Neomycin: 2-3 h; polymyxin B: 4.5-6 h; bacitracin: 1.5 h. Combined: effectively ~2-6 h depending on renal function; clinical context: prolonged with renal impairment.
Bacitracin: primarily renal (>90% unchanged); Neomycin: renal (30-50% unchanged) with non-renal clearance; Polymyxin: renal excretion of parent drug (60-80% unchanged) with some biliary and fecal elimination.
Neomycin: ~99% renal; polymyxin B: ~60% renal, 40% fecal; bacitracin: mainly renal (over 90%). Combined: renal (predominant), with minor biliary/fecal contribution (polymyxin B).
Category A/B
Category A/B
Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
Aminoglycoside Antibiotic