Topical antibiotics are medications used to prevent or treat infections in damaged skin, including burns, wounds, cuts, or scrapes, as well as surgical incisions.
Some of the most commonly used topical antibiotics include bacitracin-polymyxin B, as well as mafenide acetate, and silver sulfadiazine.
These are non-prescription antibiotics that are applied locally in the form of an ointment. Once applied, they prevent infections by interfering with bacterial growth and proliferation.
In terms of side effects, topical use of bacitracin-polymyxin B usually doesn’t cause any adverse reactions, but some clients may present with mild skin irritation or urticaria.
On the other hand, mafenide can cause mild skin irritation and a burning sensation. Less frequent but more severe side effects include hypersensitivity reactions leading to urticaria, as well as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Mafenide can also cause metabolic acidosis, and some clients with G6PD deficiency have developed fatal hemolytic anemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Lastly, silver sulfadiazine can leave a temporary black discoloration skin, and can cause a burning sensation, a skin rash like erythema multiforme, or even skin necrosis.
Finally, systemic absorption of silver sulfadiazine has also been associated with severe hypersensitivity reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, as well as leukopenia, and interstitial nephritis.
Topical antibiotics should be used with caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as in clients with a history of other skin conditions, such as eczema, and viral skin infections like herpes, varicella, or shingles.
In addition, prolonged use of topical antibiotics is not recommended, since it can result in bacterial or fungal superinfection.
Finally, mafenide should also be used with caution in clients with G6PD deficiency, as well as pulmonary or renal disease.
Okay, when your client is prescribed a topical antibiotic to prevent or treat infection of a skin wound, first assess the affected area, making note of the presence of any drainage, odor, redness, warmth, swelling, or pain.
