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Antibacterial ointments including bacitracin, Polysporin, and Bactroban are routinely used for wound care after dermatologic surgery to reduce infections and to provide a moist healing environment. However, some patients develop allergic contact dermatitis. This randomized, double-blind, prospective trial compared white petrolatum and bacitracin ointment for postoperative wound care in 922 patients who underwent dermatologic surgery. Patients with bacitracin sensitivity were excluded.
A total of 884 patients with 1207 wounds completed the study. Clinical signs of infection developed in 3.6% of wounds in the petrolatum group and 2.7% in the bacitracin group. Culture confirmed the infections in 1.6% of the petrolatum-treated wounds and 0.7% of…