Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Bacitracin for Injection
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
Bacitracin for Injection, USP can be used by a healthcare professional in the treatment of infants with pneumonia and empyema (accumulation of pus in the chest) caused by staphylococci (bacteria) and administered by injection in the muscle. Bacitracin for Injection, USP can also be used as a topically applied solution to treat infected wounds, ulcers, pyodermas and other superficial skin and eye infections under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Antibacterial drugs like Bacitracin for Injection, USP treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. Although you may feel better early in treatment, Bacitracin for Injection, USP should be used exactly as directed. Misuse or overuse of Bacitracin for Injection, USP could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by Bacitracin for Injection (resistance). This means that Bacitracin for Injection may not work for you in the future. Do not share your medicine.
What it does:
Bacitracin for Injection, USP is an antibiotic that treats against a variety of organisms.
When it should not be used:
Do not take Bacitracin for Injection, USP if you
- are allergic to bacitracin
- are allergic to any of the other ingredients in Bacitracin for Injection, USP or to a component of the container
What the medicinal ingredient is:
The active ingredient is bacitracin.
What the important nonmedicinal ingredients are:
There are no nonmedicinal ingredients.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Bacitracin for Injection, USP is available in a vial containing 50 000 units, in packages of 10.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE Bacitracin is administered to you or you use Bacitracin topically, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if:
- You have or have had kidney problems
- Any allergies to this drug
Intramuscular bacitracin can cause kidney failure. Kidney function will be carefully determined by the doctor before and daily during your therapy. Contact your doctor immediately and stop taking Bacitracin 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.
As with other antibiotics, this drug may cause an overgrowth of non-susceptible organisms, including fungi. If a superinfection occurs, talk to your doctor to start appropriate treatment.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Do not use Bacitracin for Injection, USP at the same time as other nephrotoxic drugs, especially streptomycin kanamycin, polymyxin B, polymyxin E (colistin), neomycin, and viomycin.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Usual dose:
Infant dose:
As determined by the doctor: 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, by intramuscular injection.
Preparation of Solutions for Intramuscular Use or Topical Use:
Overdose:
If you feel you have been administered too much
Serious Warnings and Precautions
Bacitracin for Injection, USP can cause serious side effects which include:
- Damage to the kidneys including kidney failure. Kidney failure is a condition where your kidneys stop working
- Serious allergic reactions
Bacitracin (injection), contact your attending healthcare professional.
| In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Bacitracin for Injection, USP 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 for Injection, USP and while you are receiving it.
Other reactions include nausea and vomiting, pain at injection site, and skin rashes.
| SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, HOW OFTEN THEY HAPPEN AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM | ||||
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your doctor or pharmacist | Stop taking drug and seek immediate emergency medical attention | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | |||
| Un-common | 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 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 sick to your stomach or vomiting, hives, itchy skin rash, skin blisters, swelling of your tongue or throat | √ | √ | |
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking Bacitracin for Injection, USP, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store unreconstituted Bacitracin for Injection, USP in a refrigerator 2 °C to 8 °C. Solutions are rapidly inactivated at room temperature but are stable for one week when stored in a refrigerator 2 °C to 8 °C. From the time of initial puncture of the stopper, use within
72 hours when refrigerated (2 °C to 8 °C).
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. |
MORE INFORMATION
This document plus the full Package Insert, prepared for health professionals can be obtained by contacting the sponsor, Fresenius Kabi Canada Ltd., at: 1-877-821-7724.
Fresenius Kabi Canada Ltd.
Last revised: April 6, 2021
Fresenius Kabi is a registered trademark of Fresenius SE.