Bacitracin

• CAS Number: 1405-87-4

Bacitracin is a drug and polypeptide antibiotic which inhibits cell wall synthesis of some types of bacteria. Bacitracin is effective against gram-positive bacteria ( staphylococci, Microkokken ) and Neisseria. Against Haemophilus influenzae, as well as other gram negative bacteria and fungi it has no efficacy.

It is obtained from cultures of Bacillus subtilis ( also call some sources Bacillus licheniformis ) and processed as a zinc salt in aqueous tinctures, ointments, pastes or as a powder.

Pharmacology

Mechanism of Action

Bacitracin engages the bacterial murein biosynthesis. It acts as complexing with undecaprenyl diphosphate and so inhibits the membrane transport of murein components through the lipid carriers Bactoprenol.

Application

Since the antibiotic is highly nephrotoxic ( kidney damaging), it is only applied externally ( topically ). It is used in large or heavily contaminated wounds, such as bite, puncture, abrasions and lacerations, and superficial skin infections, otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear ) and infection- prone burn wounds. Here it is applied one to four times daily to the affected skin.

Further bacitracin is used in medical microbiology to isolate bacteria of the genus Haemophilus. Here in particular the effectiveness against streptococci, staphylococci and Neisseria combined with a lack of inhibition of Haemophilus is exploited.

Market

About 200 tons of bacitracin as an antibiotic feed additive and about 4 tons are used annually for wound healing. Despite the differences in quantities represents the wound healing agent a market volume of about 100 million dollars and the feed additive of about 20 million dollars a year dar.

Trade names

Bacivet S ( D, veterinary medicine )

Baneocin (A), Baneopol (CH), Cicatrex (CH), Eucilin (A), Nebacetin (D), Nebaceton (A), Neotracin (CH), Polyspectran (D), Rhino Cillin (A)