Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Baciject
What is BaciJect used for?
- BaciJect can be used to treat infants with pneumonia and empyema (accumulation of pus in the chest) caused by staphylococci (bacteria).
- BaciJect can also be used to treat infected wounds, ulcers, pyodermas and other superficial skin and eye infections.
- Antibacterial drugs like BaciJect treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections, such as the common cold.
How does BaciJect work?
BaciJect contains an antibiotic that reduces infections by:
- Stopping the growth of bacteria.
- Killing bacteria.
What are the ingredients in BaciJect?
Medicinal ingredients: 50,000 units of Bacitracin.
Non-medicinal ingredients: None.
BaciJect comes in the following dosage forms:
Serious Warnings and Precautions
- Intramuscular injections of bacitracin can cause kidney failure. Kidney failure is a condition where kidneys stop workings. Your healthcare professional will carefully monitor your Kidney function before and during your daily therapy. Contact your healthcare professional immediately and stop taking BaciJect if the signs of kidney problems occur, with symptoms such as urinating, less than usual or not at all, blood in the urine, lower back pain, or painful urination. See “Serious side effects and what to do about them”, below, for more information.
- BaciJect may cause serious allergic reactions when used as an injection or when applied topically. Contact your healthcare professional immediately and stop taking BaciJect if you think you are having an allergic reaction to BaciJect. See “Serious side effects and what to do about them”, below, for more information.
Lyophilized Powder for Solution, 50,000 Units/Vial
Do not use BaciJect if:
- You are allergic to bacitracin or to any other ingredients in BaciJect.
- You have impaired kidneys or are taking another drug that may impair your kidneys.
To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take BaciJect. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:
- Have or have had kidney problems
Other warnings you should know about:
As with other antibiotics, this drug may cause an overgrowth of other bacteria or fungi. If you think that you have another infection (superinfection), talk to your healthcare professional.
Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.
The following may interact with BaciJect:
Drugs that may also harm your kidney’s such as:
- Streptomycin kanamycin
- Polymyxin B
- Polymyxin E (colistin)
- Neomycin
- viomycin
How to take BaciJect:
- BaciJect will be given to you by a healthcare professional in a healthcare setting. Your healthcare professional will prepare the BaciJect so that it can be injected or applied to your skin.
- Although you may feel better early in treatment, BaciJect should be used exactly as directed.
- Misuse or overuse of BaciJect could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by BaciJect (resistance). This means that BaciJect may not work for you in the future.
- Do not share your medicine.
- You should drink lots of fluid while taking BaciJect. Your healthcare professional may need to give you additional fluids intravenously, if required.
Usual dose:
Topical application:
Your healthcare professional will prepare BaciJect based on how it will be applied. You may receive BaciJect in a compress for your skin, drops for your eye or nose, or as an aerosol to be inhaled. Intramuscular Injection:
Infant dose:
Your healthcare professional will decide how much BaciJect to give your child, based on their weight. For infants under 2500 grams – 900 units/kg/24 hours in 2 or 3 divided doses. For infants over 2500 grams – 1000 units/kg/24 hours in 2 or 3 divided doses.
Overdose:
| If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much BaciJect, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
|---|
Missed Dose: Your healthcare professional will administer BaciJect. If you miss a scheduled dose talk to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
What are possible side effects from using BaciJect?
These are not all the possible side effects you may have when taking BaciJect. If you experience any side effects not listed here, tell your healthcare professional.
Side effects include:
- nausea and vomiting,
- pain at injection site
- skin rashes.
Bacitracin may cause abnormal blood test results. Your healthcare professional will decide when to perform blood tests and will interpret the results. They will check your kidney function before you receive bacitracin and while you are receiving it.
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | ||
| RARE | |||
| Kidney problems: urinating less than usual or not at all, blood in the urine, lower back pain, or painful urination | √ | ||
| Damage to the kidneys including kidney failure: back and abdominal pain, change in the colour of urine (pale or dark), decrease in the amount of urine produced, nausea, pain or discomfort when urinating, swelling of the legs and ankles, tiredness, weight gain. | √ | ||
| Allergic reactions: difficulty breathing or swallowing, feeling | √ | ||
Serious side effects and what to do about them
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help |
|---|---|---|
| Only if severe | In all cases | |
| sick to your stomach or vomiting, hives, itchy skin, rash, skin blisters, swelling of your tongue or throat. | ||
If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, tell your healthcare professional.
Reporting Side Effects
You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
Storage:
Store BaciJect dry powder in a refrigerator 2-8°C. Solutions are rapidly inactivated at room temperature but are stable for one week when stored in a refrigerator 2-8°C.
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
If you want more information about BaciJect:
- Talk to your healthcare professional
- Find the full product monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website: (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-products/drug-product-database.html; the manufacturer’s website (http://www.sterimaxinc.com), or by calling 1-800-881-3550.