Does misusing Polysporin create antibiotic resistance?

Define “misusing”.

@anniereborn Skipping dosages. Instead of applying 3 times a day , using once every second days

No. That only applies to ingested antibiotic pills.

Thanks.

It can. It’s why there is a whole bunch of information out there that washing with regular soap can be just as effective as antibacterial soaps. They are trying to discourage the use of antibiotics. Bacterias like MRSA are resistant to most antibiotics and it lives on our skin and surfaces.

@JLeslie Yes, but he’s talking about “skipping dosages” of Neosporin ointment. How is skipping dosages of that going to create Super Bugs? Besides, it’s not an antibiotic, it’s antibacterial.

Yeah, there’s the possibility that overuse of things like Neosporin may contribute to bacterial resistance. But overusing isn’t really what the question is about.

@RedDeerGuy1 -

With Neosporin and the like it’s really not necessary to apply them three times a day. In fact they probably don’t really need to be applied more than once or twice at all. If you have a cut or whatnot apply a little Neosporin to the wound then cover it with a bandage. Maybe apply a little more when you change the bandage for the first time. That should do you just fine.

My mistake. I didn’t read well. I wouldn’t worry about skipping a dose with topical antibacterials. I agree with the other jellies. Keeping the area moist with neosporin or something similar like Vaseline will help prevent scarring, but Vaseline doesn’t have the antibacterial properties to prevent infection.

@anniereborn It is an antibiotic. It interferes with RNA replication, and probably some other mechanism I don’t really know or understand well. It’s not an antiseptic that kills bacteria splat like alcohol.

No, hon, that only creates an environment that is pleasing to the bugs that are already there.

Dress your wound like the doctor told you before you do end up with a staph infection.