title: Eradication of resident bacteria of normal human skin by antimicrobial ointment.
abstract: The application of a topical triple-antibiotic ointment (containing neomycin, polymyxin, and bacitracin) eradicated resident bacteria through 25 layers of the stratum corneum and prevented repopulation of bacteria overnight but not at 1 week. Through 15 layers, mupirocin had some effect, whereas a double-antibiotic ointment had none. The reservoir of resident bacteria in the sebaceous glands is not affected by a topical antibiotic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA. JOH@virginia.edu
authors.forename: J Owen
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Hendley
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ashe
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001414:Bacitracin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009355:Neomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010577:Petrolatum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011112:Polymyxin B / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D001414:Bacitracin; D010577:Petrolatum; C001816:bacitracin zinc, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, drug combination; D016712:Mupirocin; D009355:Neomycin; D011112:Polymyxin B