Do all wounds need an Anti-septic?
Written: Jan 25 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Safer and more potent than Neosporin!
Cons: Slightly expensive.
The Bottom Line: Recommended to all contaminated and High risk wounds as Prophylaxis and to simple wounds that show early signs of infection
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Do all wounds need an Anti-septic?
Certainly not! I am a General Physician and I come across several types of wounds in the Emergency room. We have lots of topical antibiotics in the ER but selecting the right one in the right time for that particular wound goes a long way in accurately addressing the problem. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to the emergence of multiple drug resistant organisms which continue to pose new challenge to the modern medicine. Also using a topical antibiotic on a wound when it is not needed interferes with normal healing process and delays the healing. Our body is equipped with natural immunity to fight the infection and antibiotic assistance should be given only when the body cannot fight the infection by itself.
In this review , I will be providing information regarding various types of wounds, wound care, antibiotic usage, information about Polysporin and why I would prefer Polysporin to Neosporin in addressing infected wounds. If you want information only about Polysporin please skip the rest and go to the side headings " Polysporin-fast moving OTC drug" and "Polysporin vs. Neosporin". All the information I am providing here is a collection from various medical books that I have read during my undergraduate years.
Wounds-What are they?
A wound is a breach in our skin or deep to the skin that exposes the tissues underneath the skin to the external environment. Skin is an excellent barrier against the infections and once it is peeled off, the tissues underneath becomes vulnerable to an infection. So, in case of any type of wound the first step should be to protect the wound with a sterile dressing [ except in case of puncture wounds ]. Wounds can be clasified as:
-Scrape wounds [ Abrasions and Lacerations ]
-Cut wounds
-Bites
-Burns
-Blood under the nails
-Puncture wounds
-Infected wounds
Scrape wounds are caused when our skin is rubbed against a rough surface. Cut wounds are usually caused a sharp object.
These are the most common type of wounds we suffer and the care for these is the same. Two most important dangers of these wounds is Bleeding and Infection. Bleeding can be controlled immediately by tightly pressing the wound with a sterile gauze. If the bleeding does not stop with in few minutes, it indicates that a blood vessel has been cut and such a wound would require a stitch. You should consult a physician if the bleeding does not stop. The second important issue in wound care is to prevent the infection.
How to prevent infections in wounds?
-Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
-Clean the external wound with plenty of good clean drinking water. Take care to remove all the foreign material in the wound such as dirt, grass e.t.c
-Dry the area surrounding the wound gently with dry sterile gauze.
-Cover the wound with sterile gauze if available. Alternately a freshly laundered handkerchief may be used.
-Do not let the cotton come into contact with the wound.
-If you wish to spread antiseptic such as Polysporin over the wound, ensure that it is not mixed with water. Generally, it is better to avoid the antibiotics beyond the first day as these would delay healing, especially in the hands and the feet. Avoid putting products such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, or iodine solutions in the wound. These only delay wound healing and do not do anything to prevent infection.
-Bandage the wound.
-Continued care of the wound is also very important. Wash the wound daily with soap and water. This prevents infection.
This is all that is required to care for most wounds. However, people who have Diabetes, Cancer and those who are using steroids should contact a physician since these patients have low resistance and are at high risk for infections.
-High risk wounds:
Bites and Puncture wounds are high risk wounds for infection. Bites by wild animals and humans require the same first aid as mentioned above. In addition they need a tetanus booster. You should consult your physician for Bites because they may require an oral antibiotic. More over these wounds should not be bandaged. Puncture wounds are the dirtiest wounds becuse they carry a very high risk of infection. It is also very difficult to clean them thoroughly as they penetrate deep. They should not be bandaged because they should be allowed to drain out freely. These wounds usually require a topical antibiotic such as POLYSPORIN.
Blood under the nail is caused by crush injury to the nail. These wounds cause severe pain and the pain is mainly due to the pressure caused by the accumulated blood in a tight space under the nail. So, the first step here should be to puncture the wound with a sterile needle. The blood would then spurt out and the pain will be relieved immediately. Then clean the wound and cover it with a sterile dressing.
Infected Wounds: Any redness, swelling, increased pain, or pus draining from the wound may indicate an infection that requires professional care. If the infection is mild, apply a thin layer of topical antiseptic such as Polysporin. If the swelling and pain is severe consult your doctor for better care as the wound may have to be drained.
-Polysporin-a fast moving OTC drug: An antiseptic cream such as Polysporin should be used only when the wound is dirty, for puncture wounds and for wounds showing early signs of infection. Clean healing wounds do not require antibiotics beyond the first day. I do not support the notion that all the wounds should be given prophylaxis against infection. An antiseptic cream is still a foreign body and it delays healing and some people may even have side effects.
Ingredients: Polysporin contains: Polymixin B sulfate, Bacitracin Zinc in a white petrolatum base. The active ingredients here are Polymyxin and Bacitracin. Petrolatum base is inactive and has no function other than to carry the active ingredients in an ointment form. Polymyxin B and Baciracin have excellent activity against many organisms that are implicated in wound infections.
Apply the ointment as a thin layer twice daily. Most wounds heal with in five to seven days. Avoid usage beyond seven days as this may lead to antibiotic resistance. Contact a physician if the wound does not heal beyond seven days. Taking vitamin C and Zinc supplements can hasten healing. You may want to consider this next time in your wound care.
Polysporin is usually safe. There are usually no serious side effects as it does not contain Neomycin sulfate. It is manufactured by Pfizer, a company that is trusted by thousands of physicians world wide.There can be mild allergic reactions such as rash. In such case stop the ointment and consult a physician. This is srictly for external use. Avoid contact with eyes and keep it away from the reach of children. It comes in 0.5 and 1 0z tubes. It is costlier than many other brands but it is worth its price as it is more safe and potent.
Polysporin vs. Neosporin: Neosporin has been the leading brand among the over the counter topical antiseptics for the past 20 years.So, let it be. But personally I would prefer Polysporin over Neosporin. Because:
-Neosporin contains Neomycin sulfate-3.5mg, Bacitracin-400 units and Polymyxin B 5000 units. Of course it does contain cocoa butter, olive oil may prevent the formation of scars. A 1/2 oz tube costs $5. Polysporin does not contain Neomycin and it has 10,000 units of Polymixin B and 500 units of Bacitracin [ higher dose than in Neosporin].
In the first place Neomycin offers no extra advantage than Polymixin against the bacteria. Next it has got various side effects. It cannot be used in pregnancy as it can cause hearing problems in the fetus. It can cause kidney problems in some patients. It has higher incidence of allergic reactions. It can cause hearing problems in certain patients. So, I do not see any rationale in combining Neomycin with Polymixin and Bacitracin [ Neosporin] when a simple combination of Polymyxin and Bacitracin can address most of the bacteria with out any side effects of Neomycin.
Next, the safer components-Polymyxin and Bacitracin are combined in higher potent doses in Polysporin than in Neosporin. So, Polysporin works faster than Neosporin. Though it is a little more expensive than Neosporin I think it is worth the price given its safety and potency. Only advantage of Neosporin is that it has some inactive ingredients like olive oil and cocoa butter that are claimed to prevent scars. But this benefit does not outweigh the risks of neomycin as most simple and clean wounds do not usually produce scars.
Recommended:
Yes
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ruthless77
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Location: NJ, USA
Reviews written: 19
Trusted by: 22 members
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The Fittest Survive!-Darwin never gave his law, a philosophical touch!Lets apply this to life!
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