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Antibiotic ointment
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025

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An antibiotic ointment can successfully eliminate and prevent infection of the affected skin surface.
The use of modern products with antimicrobial components for local wound therapy can significantly accelerate the rate of healing and quickly eliminate the external inflammatory process.
Indications for the use of antibiotic ointments
Ointments with antimicrobial components are used to treat wounds and other damaged or infected surfaces. Such ointments are used for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes in the following pathologies:
- infectious diseases of the visual organs (bacterial conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, trachoma, infection of the lacrimal canal or sac, cornea of the eye);
- pustular skin pathologies (boils, carbuncles, acne), trophic erosions, eczema, bedsores, burn or cold lesions of the skin, animal and insect bites, erysipelas;
- acute otitis externa;
- bacterial complications after ophthalmological operations or eye injuries.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of antibiotic ointments
As a rule, the main antibacterial ointments have a broad spectrum of action on bacterial strains. They have a detrimental effect on aerobic and anaerobic gram-negative and gram-positive microbes, most streptococci and staphylococci. Antibiotics can affect metabolic processes in bacterial DNA, inhibit gyrase - a DNA enzyme that is found in bacterial cells and controls the structure and functionality of DNA. Antimicrobial activity can be due to the effect on the RNA of microbes and the production of bacterial proteins.
Antibacterial drugs are selectively effective against intestinal, typhoid and dysentery bacilli, and Proteus.
Active substances of antimicrobial ointments do not penetrate skin tissues sufficiently, therefore, their resorptive effect is not observed. The duration of therapeutic effectiveness after a single application can last for 10 hours, which determines the optimal frequency of use of drugs 2-3 times a day. The daily number of therapeutic applications also depends on the stage of the pathology and the severity of tissue damage.
Method of administration and dosage
Antibiotic ointments are used in small quantities, which in case of eye diseases are placed in the area of the lower eyelid of the diseased eye 3-4 times a day. In case of skin pathologies, the ointment is applied to the affected area of the skin in a single dose of up to 1 g, it is possible to place the ointment under a compression bandage.
The duration of use of the drug is developed by the doctor on an individual basis: as a rule, the severity and extent of the lesion and the rate of tissue regeneration are taken into account.
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Names of ointments containing antibiotics
Tetracycline ointment is a common ointment with an antibiotic for tissue inflammation. It exists in the form of eye and external ointments (1-3%). The antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin allows you to stop the proliferation of pathogenic microbes in eye diseases, in the treatment of pustular skin diseases and complicated ulcers and eczema. It is positioned as an excellent ointment for barley with an antibiotic. The product is applied several times a day until the disease is completely cured.
Terramycin ointment - contains oxytetracycline, similar in properties to tetracycline ointment. Suppresses the development of a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative microbes, used in the treatment of infected wounds, including traumatic and surgical (abrasions, scratches, punctures). A feature of the drug is the ability to accumulate its effect within a week from the moment of a single application.
Erythromycin ointment is a macrolide antibacterial ointment used in the treatment of infectious lesions of the eyes, skin and mucous membranes, bedsores and tissue trophic (nutrition) disorders, burns. The drug has virtually no side effects and can be used in elderly and weakened patients.
Polymyxin ointment (Polymyxin M sulfate) is an antibacterial ointment that suppresses the growth of intestinal and dysentery bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. When applied externally, it has no toxic effect. It is not used to treat Proteus, mycobacteria and fungal infections. This ointment is usually prescribed as a combination therapy with other antimicrobial drugs for internal use. The duration of treatment is determined individually and is usually 7-10 days.
Levomekol ointment is an antibiotic ointment for wounds, trophic ulcers, pustular-inflammatory skin diseases. It can be used for burns of the II or III degree. Levomekol combines the action of the antibacterial agent chloramphenicol and the immunostimulant methyluracil, which allows for a more comprehensive effect on the pathology. Sterile napkins are impregnated with the ointment, which are then inserted into the pre-cleaned wound, once a day. Long-term use of the drug is not recommended due to the possibility of absorption of the drug into the blood.
Bactroban is a nasal ointment with an antibiotic, has significant antimicrobial activity against staphylococcal flora, in particular, against methicillin-resistant strains. The main component is mupirocin, a broad-spectrum antibacterial substance. The ointment is used to treat infectious pathologies of the nasal cavity. The ointment is administered into clean nasal passages 2 times a day, avoiding contact with the mucous membrane of the eye. The duration of therapy is on average 5-7 days.
Gentaxan is an antibiotic ointment for healing wounds of various origins and locations, including infected surgical wounds (suppuration, abscesses). Gentaxan has proven itself as an effective therapeutic agent for burns, bedsores, regeneration processes against the background of immunodeficiency states, radiation sickness, metabolic disorders. The drug is applied under a bandage 1-2 times a day, gradually reducing the dosage. A single application allows the use of 10-12 g of ointment.
Oflokain is an antibiotic ointment for the skin, combining the action of the antimicrobial fluoroquinolone drug ofloxacin and the local anesthetic lidocaine. Oflokain is used to treat purulent and inflammatory skin diseases, to prevent putrefactive processes in wounds, trophic disorders in the skin. The product is applied from 1-2 times a day to 2 times a week, depending on clinical indications. The dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor depending on the degree of skin damage and the presence of purulent discharge.
Baneocin is a medicinal ointment for boils with an antibiotic. The ointment contains a combination of a pair of antibiotics, bacitracin and banercin, which have different antimicrobial activity and complement each other favorably. The drug is effective in the treatment of impetigo, furunculosis, carbunculosis, folliculitis, abscesses of sweat and sebaceous glands, pyoderma. Baneocin is also used as an ointment with antibiotics for children: as a preventive measure for infectious lesions of the navel, as well as for infection of the child's skin due to non-compliance with the rules of child hygiene. In pediatrics, the ointment can be used to treat the same diseases as in adult patients.
"Fastin" - is used as an ointment with antibiotics and antiseptics for the treatment of recent burns, purulent inflammatory lesions of the skin. Contains the antimicrobial drug synthomycin and the antiseptic furacilin. The product is applied to sterile napkins and applied to the affected skin surface. The bandage is changed after 6-7 days, as indicated.
Levosin is the best antibiotic ointment used in the treatment of purulent processes in wounds at the first stage of infection. It contains the antibacterial drug levomycetin, anti-inflammatory sulfadimethoxine, immunostimulant methyluracil and anesthetic trimecaine. Due to the combination of these drugs, the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the ointment is achieved. The product is soaked in sterile napkins or turundas, which are then inserted into the wound or applied to the wound surface; sometimes the drug is administered using a syringe directly into the purulent cavity, pre-heating the ointment to human body temperature.
Metrogyl is an effective gel ointment for acne with an antibiotic, an imidazole preparation. It has antiprotozoal and antimicrobial effects, and is effective for acne, particularly in boys during puberty. Another use of the ointment is the treatment of anal fissures due to hemorrhoids, bedsores, ulcerative pathologies due to diabetes or varicose veins of the lower extremities. The product is applied in a thin layer in the morning and at night, gently rubbing into the affected area of the skin.
Klenzit S is used as an external preparation for the treatment of acne. The active substance, adapalene, normalizes the processes of skin keratinization and prevents the formation of microcomedones. The product is applied exclusively to clean, undamaged skin that does not contain wounds or scratches, 1-2 times a day. The duration and treatment regimen are prescribed by a dermatologist according to indications; standard treatment can last up to 2 months. During the period of therapy with the drug, you should refrain from exposing the treated skin to sunlight.
Isotrexin is an antibacterial gel ointment containing isotretinoin and erythromycin. The drug is prescribed for drug therapy of inflammatory and non-inflammatory forms of acne (acne vulgaris). It is not used in pregnant women and children. The drug inhibits the activity of the sebaceous glands, reduces the severity of the inflammatory process. The ointment can be applied under makeup, 1-2 times a day. The course of therapy can last up to 2 months.
Dalacin is an ointment derivative of the antibiotic lincomycin, used in gynecology to treat infectious vaginitis. The drug affects gram-positive cocci, mycoplasma, actinomycetes and anaerobic non-spore-forming bacteria. The ointment is usually administered into the vagina using the application method, a single dose of 5 g. The duration of therapy is 3 days. The possibility of using the ointment during pregnancy is decided by the doctor based on individual indications.
Fusiderm is an antibacterial ointment used for paronychia, erythrasma, rosacea, sycosis, and infectious dermatitis. The active ingredient is fusidic acid, which can inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell proteins. In small doses, the ointment has a bacteriostatic effect, and in large doses, it has a bactericidal effect. It exhibits high activity against corynebacteria, meningococci, and staphylococci. Fusiderm B ointment is a similar drug with the addition of betamethasone, which enhances the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effect of the drug. The product is used every 8 hours for 1-2 weeks.
Sanguiritrin is a 1% ointment with an antibiotic against streptoderma, pyoderma, dermatomycotic lesions, periodontal and aphthous stomatitis. It is active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeast-like and mycelial fungi. The liniment is used 1-2 times a day for 1-2 days.
Syntomycin is an ointment with an antibiotic against staphylococcus, in terms of its spectrum of action it does not differ from levomycetin, it is an antimicrobial and antiparasitic drug. When treating wounds, the ointment is applied in a thin layer once a day; in burn therapy, it is used once for 2-3 days; in case of skin infection, the ointment is applied without a bandage up to 2 times a day. The dosage of the drug is determined by the doctor depending on the scale of the affected surface.
Neomycin, Neosporin - bactericidal eye ointments with antibiotics, used for conjunctivitis, inflammation of the cornea, other eye microbial infections. A single dose of 0.5% ointment should not exceed 30-50g, and 2% ointment - no more than 10g; the maximum daily dose is 100g and 20g, respectively.
Oxycort is a hormonal ointment with an antibiotic, contains hydrocortisone (adrenal cortex hormone) and oxytetracycline (tetracycline antibiotic). A complex drug with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and bactericidal effects. This ointment is used in the treatment of chronic purulent skin infections, neuroallergic lesions, contact dermatoses, erysipelas, and radiotherapeutic skin changes.
Akriderm Genta is an ointment-cream that combines the glucocorticosteroid betamethasone and the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin. The drug is aimed at eliminating signs of inflammation, allergies, infectious processes, itching and swelling of skin tissues. It is actively used in the treatment of atopic, allergic and simple dermatitis (including secondary infections), eczematous and psoriatic manifestations, simple lichen, skin reaction to ultraviolet light, radiation. The duration of treatment with the ointment is usually 3-4 weeks.
Pimafukort is an antibacterial glucocorticoid ointment, which is a complex of active ingredients natamycin, neomycin and hydrocortisone. Combines antimicrobial, antifungal, antipruritic and antibacterial action: inhibits the development of staphylococcal, enterococcal and protozoal infections. The ointment can be used for superficial infectious otomycosis and dermatoses (including fungal and pustular). The drug can also be used in childhood, starting from 1 year.
Using antibiotic ointments during pregnancy
Due to the practical absence of resorptive action of antibacterial ointments, their use during pregnancy is permitted. However, the duration of use of such dosage forms should be short-term, with application to small areas of skin surfaces. The use of any medications, including ointments, during pregnancy should be agreed upon with a doctor.
Contraindications to the use of antibiotic ointments
The main contraindication to the use of antibiotic ointments is the patient's predisposition to allergic reactions in response to any of the components of the drug. The likelihood of hypersensitivity to antimicrobial drugs threatens the development of serious complications, in particular, anaphylactic reaction and angioedema. Antibacterial ointments are prescribed with caution to children under 8 years of age.
Antibacterial ointments are not prescribed for cutaneous tuberculosis, malignant tumors and precancerous conditions of the skin, mycoses, viral skin lesions (herpetic eruptions, chickenpox).
Side effects of antibiotic ointments
Local application of the drug significantly reduces the possibility of developing side effects, since the absorption of the drug into the blood is insignificant. The development of local allergic reactions is likely in the presence of increased sensitivity of the body to antibiotics. This may manifest itself in the form of papular or erythematous rash, urticaria, hypersensitivity of individual areas of the skin to ultraviolet rays (excessive tanning). If ointments are used in the eye area, conjunctivitis of allergic etiology, hyperemia of the eyelids, and lacrimation may develop. If such side effects develop, it is recommended to stop using the drug.
Overdose
Cases of overdose of topical preparations are unlikely. If suspicious symptoms such as nausea, dyspeptic disorders, skin manifestations, or allergy symptoms occur, you should definitely stop using the ointment and consult a doctor.
There were no cases of addiction to the drugs.
Interactions of antibiotic ointments with other drugs
No clinically important interactions of antibiotic ointments with other medicinal substances were observed.
Storage conditions for antibiotic ointments
Antibacterial ointments should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of 20-24 C. The dosage form should not be exposed to heat or freezing, and should be protected from external damage. The preparations should be stored in places difficult for children to access.
The shelf life of ointments is from 2 to 3 years; after opening the package or tube, it is advisable to use the drug within two months.
Every year, millions of patients with wounds, purulent processes, trophic ulcers are registered in our country alone. Ointment with antibiotic makes local treatment of wounds more effective and successful, significantly reduces the length of stay of patients in hospital conditions.
Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Antibiotic ointment" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.