POLYCIN (bacitracin/polymyxin b sulfate)

There are 0 contraindications.

There are 0 severe contraindications.

There are 1 moderate contraindications. Clinically significant contraindication, where the condition can be managed or treated before the drug may be given safely.

Moderate List
No disease contraindications

There are 9 severe adverse reactions.

More Frequent	Less Frequent
Ocular inflammation Ocular itching Ocular redness	Ocular irritation

Rare/Very Rare
Anaphylaxis Apnea Chest tightness Facial edema Hypotension

There are 6 less severe adverse reactions.

More Frequent	Less Frequent
None.	None.

Rare/Very Rare
Candidiasis Conjunctival hyperemia Hyperhidrosis Ocular irritation Ocular itching Skin rash

Animal reproduction studies have not been performed with bacitracin. It is not known whether ophthalmic preparations containing bacitracin or bacitracin zinc can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate with or without neomycin sulfate should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed.

Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, and a corticosteroid (i.e., hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate) should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits justify potential risks to the fetus. Animal reproduction studies have not been performed with polymyxin B sulfate. It is not known whether ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate can cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women.

Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations of polymyxin B sulfate and bacitracin zinc or polymyxin B sulfate, neomycin sulfate, and either bacitracin zinc or gramicidin should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Because trimethoprim may interfere with folic acid metabolism, fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate and trimethoprim sulfate should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits justify potential risks to the fetus. Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate, other anti-infectives (i.e., neomycin sulfate, bacitracin zinc), and a corticosteroid (i.e., dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate) should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits justify potential risks to the fetus. Fixed-combination otic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate, neomycin sulfate, and hydrocortisone should be used during pregnancy only if potential benefits justify potential risks to the fetus.

It is not know whether bacitracin is distributed into milk. Bacitracin and fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing bacitracin zinc and polymyxin B sulfate with or without neomycin sulfate should be used with caution in nursing women. The manufacturers of fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B sulfate, and a corticosteroid (i.e., hydrocortisone, hydrocortisone acetate) state that a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the ophthalmic preparation, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman.

Some experts consider topical bacitracin compatible with nursing. Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate and other anti-infectives (i.e., bacitracin zinc, gramicidin, neomycin sulfate, trimethoprim sulfate) should be used with caution in nursing women. Fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate, neomycin sulfate, and dexamethasone should be used with caution in nursing women.

The manufacturers of fixed-combination ophthalmic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate, neomycin sulfate, bacitracin zinc, and hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone acetate state that a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the ophthalmic preparation, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman. Fixed-combination otic preparations containing polymyxin B sulfate, neomycin sulfate, and hydrocortisone should be used with caution in nursing women.

No enhanced Geriatric Use information available for this drug.