Bacitracin + Polymyxin B + Neomycin yields which antibiotic?

Bacitracin + Polymyxin B + Neomycin yields which antibiotic?

• A. Neosporin
• B. Polysporin
• C. Augmentin
• D. Penicillin

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing a specific topical antibiotic combination. A cream that combines bacitracin, polymyxin B, and neomycin is known as Neosporin. This triple-antibiotic ointment uses three different mechanisms to cover a broad range of skin bacteria: bacitracin inhibits cell wall synthesis, polymyxin B disrupts the bacterial cell membrane, and neomycin inhibits protein synthesis. Polysporin, by contrast, contains bacitracin and polymyxin B but not neomycin. Augmentin and Penicillin are systemic antibiotics and are not the triple-agent topical product.

The main idea here is recognizing a specific topical antibiotic combination. A cream that combines bacitracin, polymyxin B, and neomycin is known as Neosporin. This triple-antibiotic ointment uses three different mechanisms to cover a broad range of skin bacteria: bacitracin inhibits cell wall synthesis, polymyxin B disrupts the bacterial cell membrane, and neomycin inhibits protein synthesis. Polysporin, by contrast, contains bacitracin and polymyxin B but not neomycin. Augmentin and Penicillin are systemic antibiotics and are not the triple-agent topical product.