Types of skin infection
Topical antibiotics contained in an ointment are used to treat primary skin infections like impetigo (a contagious skin infection forming blisters or red spots), paronychia (infection of the nail fold), folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles). They are also used to treat secondary skin infections like infected cuts, grazes and abrasions, eczema and contact dermatitis, minor burns, and insect bites.
Topical treatments for skin infections
Topical antibiotics prevent spread of bacteria and allow the infected skin to heal.
They include:
- Sodium fusidate, a topical antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein synthesis, and inhibits bacterial replication, but does not kill the bacteria. It is very soluble in fat and water and penetrates the skin easily to get to the site of infection, which makes it a very efficient topical antibiotic.
- Mupirocin, a topical antibiotic that inhibits protein and RNA synthesis, which blocks growth and replication of these bacteria and kills the bacteria.
- Neomycin a broad spectrum topical antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein synthesis needed for replication, and although it does not absorb into the skin, it is effective in preventing the spread of bacteria in the skin. The antibiotic ointment is also combined with an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid to reduce inflammation in infected inflammatory skin disorders.