Doctors Urge Rethinking Topical Antibiotics for Minor Cuts as 5% of Children Get Skin Allergies
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 21
Doctors Urge Rethinking Topical Antibiotics for Minor Cuts as 5% of Children Get Skin Allergies
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 21
Summary
Nearly 1,000 patients in a randomized trial showed bacitracin worked no better than petroleum jelly on clean minor wounds, with similarly low infection rates and healing outcomes.
About 5% of children and 2% of adults can develop allergic contact dermatitis from over-the-counter topical antibiotics such as neomycin, and that irritation can be mistaken for infection.
The American Academy of Dermatology says preventive antibiotic ointments are not the default for minor wounds; doctors recommend cleaning the cut, applying petroleum jelly, and keeping it covered.
Redness, warmth, pus, fever, red streaks, or bleeding that lasts 10 to 15 minutes are signs to seek medical care, while cutting unnecessary antibiotic use may also help limit resistance.