Neosporin
Encyclopedia
Neosporin is the product branding & formulas now owned by Johnson & Johnson
of an antibiotic
over-the-counter topical created under Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare, now a part of Pfizer
. It is used in the prevention and fighting of infection
and speeding the healing of wound
s, although the use of antibiotics has raised common concerns.
The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin
, neomycin
, and polymyxin B
, in a relatively low molecular weight patented base of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, sodium pyruvate, tocopheryl acetate, and petroleum jelly
.
The generic name for these products, regardless of the base, is "Triple Antibiotic Ointment".
In China, this product is called "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment," which is manufactured by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical. The product was also marketed by The Upjohn
Company under the name "Mycitracin", until 1997 when that name was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.
Some people have allergic reactions to neomycin
, so a "Double antibiotic ointment" is sold that only contains
bacitracin
and polymyxin B
, such as the co-brand Polysporin
.
A "Plus" variant of the ointment exists that adds the analgesic pramoxine, but uses the cheap, simple, long-lasting, but heavier petroleum jelly
base that is common to many OTC topicals. The latest version of this, a high-absorption cream (pharmaceutical)
, removes the bacitracin
which is unstable in such a base, but keeps the analgesic.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational 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....
of an antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
over-the-counter topical created under Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare, now a part of Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
. It is used in the prevention and fighting of infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
and speeding the healing of wound
Wound
A wound is a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut or punctured , or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion . In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.-Open:...
s, although the use of antibiotics has raised common concerns.
The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin
Bacitracin
Bacitracin is a mixture of related cyclic polypeptides 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. The discovery of Neomycin dates back to 1949. It was discovered in the lab of Selman Waksman, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and medicine in 1951...
, and polymyxin B
Polymyxin B
Polymyxin B is an antibiotic primarily used for resistant gram-negative infections. It is derived from the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa. Polymyxin B is a mixture of two closely related compounds, polymyxin B1 and polymyxin B2. It has a bactericidal action against almost all gram-negative bacilli...
, in a relatively low molecular weight patented base of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, sodium pyruvate, tocopheryl acetate, and petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum or soft paraffin, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons , originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties...
.
The generic name for these products, regardless of the base, is "Triple Antibiotic Ointment".
In China, this product is called "Complex Polymyxin B Ointment," which is manufactured by Zhejiang Reachall Pharmaceutical. The product was also marketed by The Upjohn
Upjohn
The Upjohn Company was a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm founded in 1886 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Dr. William E. Upjohn, an 1875 graduate of the University of Michigan medical school. The company was originally formed to make friable pills, which were specifically designed to be easily digested...
Company under the name "Mycitracin", until 1997 when that name was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.
Some people have allergic reactions to neomycin
Neomycin
Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is found in many topical medications such as creams, ointments, and eyedrops. The discovery of Neomycin dates back to 1949. It was discovered in the lab of Selman Waksman, who was later awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and medicine in 1951...
, so a "Double antibiotic ointment" is sold that only contains
bacitracin
Bacitracin
Bacitracin is a mixture of related cyclic polypeptides produced by organisms of the licheniformis group of Bacillus subtilis var Tracy, isolation of which was first reported in 1945....
and polymyxin B
Polymyxin B
Polymyxin B is an antibiotic primarily used for resistant gram-negative infections. It is derived from the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa. Polymyxin B is a mixture of two closely related compounds, polymyxin B1 and polymyxin B2. It has a bactericidal action against almost all gram-negative bacilli...
, such as the co-brand Polysporin
Polysporin
Polysporin is a line of antibiotic ointments produced by Johnson & Johnson used in the prevention of infection and speeding the healing of wounds. The original formulation contains bacitracin and polymyxin B....
.
A "Plus" variant of the ointment exists that adds the analgesic pramoxine, but uses the cheap, simple, long-lasting, but heavier petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly, petrolatum, white petrolatum or soft paraffin, CAS number 8009-03-8, is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons , originally promoted as a topical ointment for its healing properties...
base that is common to many OTC topicals. The latest version of this, a high-absorption cream (pharmaceutical)
Cream (pharmaceutical)
A cream is a topical preparation usually for application to the skin. Creams for application to mucus membranes such as those of the rectum or vagina are also used. Creams may be considered pharmaceutical products as even cosmetic creams are based on techniques developed by pharmacy and...
, removes the bacitracin
Bacitracin
Bacitracin is a mixture of related cyclic polypeptides produced by organisms of the licheniformis group of Bacillus subtilis var Tracy, isolation of which was first reported in 1945....
which is unstable in such a base, but keeps the analgesic.