Do Topical Antibiotics Promote Wound Healing in the Absence of Infection?

Dermatologists frequently use topical antibiotics for minor surgical wounds, even those that have very low risks for infection. Recently, three industry-sponsored studies examined whether topical antibiotics were beneficial in promoting wound healing compared with a petrolatum-based ointment (Aquaphor) in procedures with low probability of infection. The petrolatum-based ointment was compared with:

• Polymyxin B-bacitracin (P/B) in 30 patients who had shave excisions of two seborrheic keratoses from opposite sides of the trunk;

• P/B in 20 African-American patients with dermatosis papulosa nigra who underwent scissor removal of two papules from opposite sides of the face; and

• P/B or polymyxin B/bacitracin/neomycin in 20 patients with laser-produce…