Bacitracin

Bacitracin ( Bacillus subtilis )
	Structural formula
Mass / length primary structure	12 amino acids, 1423 daltons
Identifier
External IDs	CAS number : 1405-87-4;
Drug information
ATC code	D06 AX05 R02 AB04
DrugBank	DB00626
Drug class	Polypeptide - antibiotic

Bacitracin is a drug and polypeptide - antibiotic , wherein the cell wall synthesis of some types of bacteria inhibits. Bacitracin is effective against gram-positive bacteria ( staphylococci , micrococci ) and Neisseria . It is not effective against Haemophilus influenzae or other gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Bacitracin (named after the patient Margaret Treacy) , which was first isolated in 1943 by the bacteriologist Balbina Johnson , is obtained from cultures of Bacillus subtilis (some sources also name Bacillus licheniformis ) and processed as zinc salt in aqueous tinctures, ointments, pastes or as powder.

pharmacology

Mechanism of action

Bacitracin intervenes in the bacterial murein biosynthesis. It acts here as a complexing agent with undecaprenyl diphosphate and thus inhibits the membrane transport of the murein building blocks through the lipid carrier bactoprenol .

application

Since the antibiotic is highly nephrotoxic (damaging to the kidneys), it is only applied externally (topically). It is used for large or heavily soiled wounds such as bites, stab wounds, abrasions and tears, as well as superficial skin infections, otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear ) and burn wounds at risk of infection. Here it is applied to the affected skin areas one to four times a day.

Bacitracin is also used in medical microbiology to isolate bacteria of the genus Haemophilus . Here, in particular, the effectiveness against streptococci , staphylococci and Neisseria is used with a simultaneous lack of inhibition of Haemophilus.

market

Every year about 200 tons of bacitracin are used as an antibiotic feed additive and about 4 tons for wound healing. Despite the differences in volume , the wound healing agent has a market volume of about $ 100 million and the feed additive about $ 20 million annually.

Trade names

Monopreparations

Bacivet S (D, veterinary medicine)

Combination preparations

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

Web links

ClinPharm: Bacitracin

Individual evidence

↑ It Happened Here: Bacitracin. The story behind its groundbreaking discovery.
↑ Karl Wurm, AM Walter: Infectious Diseases. In: Ludwig Heilmeyer (ed.): Textbook of internal medicine. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1955; 2nd edition, ibid. 1961, pp. 9–223, here: p. 54 (“from culture filtrates of Bac. Licheniformis”).
↑ One Girl's Mishap Led to the Creation of the Antibiotic Bacitracin .
↑ Reinhard Renneberg: Biotechnology for beginners. Elsevier GmbH, Munich 2007; Page 111. ISBN 978-3-8274-1847-0 .
↑ Red List Online, as of August 2009.
↑ Swiss Medicines Compendium , as of August 2009.
↑ AGES-PharmMed, as of August 2009.

[1] It Happened Here: Bacitracin. The story behind its groundbreaking discovery.

[2] Karl Wurm, AM Walter: Infectious Diseases. In: Ludwig Heilmeyer (ed.): Textbook of internal medicine. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1955; 2nd edition, ibid. 1961, pp. 9–223, here: p. 54 (“from culture filtrates of Bac. Licheniformis”).

[3] One Girl's Mishap Led to the Creation of the Antibiotic Bacitracin .

[4] Reinhard Renneberg: Biotechnology for beginners. Elsevier GmbH, Munich 2007; Page 111. ISBN 978-3-8274-1847-0 .

[5] Red List Online, as of August 2009.

[6] Swiss Medicines Compendium , as of August 2009.

[7] AGES-PharmMed, as of August 2009.