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DIFFERENCES IN THE SENSITIZING CAPACITY OF NEOMYCIN IN CREAMS AND IN OINTMENTS
Author(s) -
HJORTH NIELS,
THOMSEN KRISTIAN
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.1968.tb12287.x
Subject(s) - neomycin , dermatology , medicine , chemistry , traditional medicine , antibiotics , biochemistry
SUMMARY. In 1963–4, 10% of patients with dermatitis gave positive patch test reactions to neomycin. Of 115 patients 89 (79%) had used neomycin in ointment bases, while only 14 (12%) had used creams or lotions, and 7 (6%) powders. In order to establish the extent to which different preparations were prescribed a market analysis was performed. The sale in 1964 of neomycin for topical use was found to be 137,000 units (tubes or other containers). A small number of proprietary preparations dominated the market. In proportion to their sale creams, lotions and powders containing neomycin were rarely connected with sensitization. This investigation suggests that neomycin ointments are the major cause of sensitization to this antibiotic. The possible significance of these findings and the influence of the vehicle on sensitizing capacity are discussed. It is recommended that neomycin should not be prescribed in ointments. The risk of inducing sensitization with neomycin in creams, lotions or powders appears to be significantly less.