Bacitracin
Bacitracin
Polypeptide antibiotic
Bacitracin[1] is a polypeptide antibiotic. It is a mixture of related cyclic peptides produced by Bacillus licheniformis bacteria, that was first isolated from the variety "Tracy I" (ATCC 10716) in 1945.[2] These peptides disrupt gram-positive bacteria by interfering with cell wall and peptidoglycan synthesis.
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| Trade names | Baciguent, Baciim, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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| Routes of administration | Topical, intramuscular, Ophthalmic drug administration |
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| Formula | C66H103N17O16S |
| Molar mass | 1422.71 g·mol−1 |
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Bacitracin is primarily used as a topical preparation, as it can cause kidney damage when used internally.[3] It is generally safe when used topically, but in rare cases may cause hypersensitivity, allergic or anaphylactic reactions, especially in people allergic to neomycin.[4][5]
In 2021, it was the 300th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 400,000 prescriptions.[6][7]
Bacitracin is used in human medicine as a polypeptide antibiotic and is "approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in chickens and turkeys," though use in animals contributes to antibiotic resistance.[8]
As bacitracin zinc salt, in combination with other topical antibiotics (usually polymyxin B and neomycin) as an ointment ("triple antibiotic ointment," with the brand name Neosporin), it is used for topical treatment of a variety of localized skin and eye infections, as well as for the prevention of wound infections. A non-ointment form of ophthalmic solution is also available for eye infections.[9]
Spectrum of activity and susceptibility data
Bacitracin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic. It targets gram-positive bacteria, especially those that cause skin infections. The following represents susceptibility data for a few medically significant microorganisms.[10]
- Staphylococcus aureus – ≤0.03 μg/mL – 700 μg/mL
- Staphylococcus epidermidis – 0.25 μg/mL – >16 μg/mL
- Streptococcus pyogenes – 0.5 μg/mL – >16 μg/mL
Bacitracin interferes with the dephosphorylation of C55-isoprenyl pyrophosphate, and a related molecule known as bactoprenol pyrophosphate; both of these lipids function as membrane carrier molecules that transport the building-blocks of the peptidoglycan bacterial cell wall outside of the inner membrane.[11]
Bacitracin was isolated by Balbina Johnson, a bacteriologist at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.[12] Its name derives from the fact that a compound produced by a microbe in young Margaret Tracy's (1936–1994)[13] leg injury showed antibacterial activity.[14]
One strain isolated from tissue debrided from a compound fracture of the tibia was particularly active. We named this growth-antagonistic strain for the patient, "Tracy I." When cell-free filtrates of broth cultures of this bacillus proved to possess strong antibiotic activity and to be non-toxic, further study seemed warranted. We have called this active principle "Bacitracin.[12]
Bacitracin was approved by the US FDA in 1948.[15]
Bacitracin is synthesised via nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which means that ribosomes are not directly involved in its synthesis. The three-enzyme operon is called BacABC, not to be confused with BacABCDE of bacilycin synthesis.[16]
Bacitracin is composed of a mixture of related compounds with varying degrees of antibacterial activity. Notable fractions include bacitracin A, A1, B, B1, B2, C, D, E, F, G, and X.[17] Bacitracin A has been found to have the most antibacterial activity. Bacitracin B1 and B2 have similar potencies and are approximately 90% as active as bacitracin A.[18]
Controversies
Claims that bacitracin is a protein disulfide isomerase inhibitor are disputed by in vitro studies.[19][20]
- Elks J, Ganellin CR (1990). The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies. Springer. pp. 119–. ISBN 978-1-4757-2085-3.
- Originally grouped under B. subtilis, but nomenclature has since changed. See Podstawka A. "Bacillus licheniformis Tracy I | DSM 603, ATCC 10716, CCM 2181, IFO 12199, NBRC 12199, NCIB 8874, FDA BT1 | BacDiveID:686". bacdive.dsmz.de. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- Spann CT, Taylor SC, Weinberg JM (July 2004). "Topical antimicrobial agents in dermatology". Disease-a-Month. 50 (7): 407–421. doi:10.1016/j.disamonth.2004.05.011. PMID 15280871.
- Trookman NS, Rizer RL, Weber T (March 2011). "Treatment of minor wounds from dermatologic procedures: a comparison of three topical wound care ointments using a laser wound model". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 64 (3 Suppl): S8-15. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2010.11.011. PMID 21247665.
- "The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- "Bacitracin - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- Pearl MC (12 September 2007). "Antibiotic use on the farm hurts people—and doesn't help the bottom line". Discover Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 September 2007.
- "Healthgrades > Find a Doctor > Doctor Reviews > Hospital Ratings". Archived from the original on 23 May 2011.
- "Bacitracin Susceptibility and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) Data" (PDF). TOKU-E. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- Stone KJ, Strominger JL (December 1971). "Mechanism of action of bacitracin: complexation with metal ion and C 55 -isoprenyl pyrophosphate". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 68 (12): 3223–7. Bibcode:1971PNAS...68.3223S. doi:10.1073/pnas.68.12.3223. PMC 389626. PMID 4332017.
- Johnson BA, Anker H, Meleney FL (October 1945). "Bacitracin: a new antibiotic produced by a member of the B. subtilis group". Science. 102 (2650): 376–7. Bibcode:1945Sci...102..376J. doi:10.1126/science.102.2650.376. PMID 17770204. S2CID 51066.
- "Margaret Tracy & Balbina Johnson: The Women Behind Bacitracin". Archived from the original on 28 April 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- "NewYork-Presbyterian | the Discovery of Bacitracin". 7 February 2017. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- "Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- Konz D, Klens A, Schörgendorfer K, Marahiel MA (December 1997). "The bacitracin biosynthesis operon of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 10716: molecular characterization of three multi-modular peptide synthetases". Chemistry & Biology. 4 (12): 927–937. doi:10.1016/s1074-5521(97)90301-x. PMID 9427658.
- "Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products Bacitracin." Ema.europa.eu. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, June 1998. Web. 18 January 2013
- Bell RG (January 1992). "Preparative high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and isolation of bacitracin components and their relationship to microbiological activity". Journal of Chromatography. 590 (1): 163–8. doi:10.1016/0021-9673(92)87018-4. PMID 1601975.
- Weston BS, Wahab NA, Roberts T, Mason RM (November 2001). "Bacitracin inhibits fibronectin matrix assembly by mesangial cells in high glucose". Kidney International. 60 (5): 1756–64. doi:10.1046/j.1523-1755.2001.00991.x. PMID 11703593.
