One word difference: erythromycin ointment or erythromycin eye ointment, are you using it correctly?

In daily life, erythromycin ointment and erythromycin eye ointment are common medicines in many people's homes. However, many people may not know the difference between them and even confuse them. Today, let us learn about these two medicines in detail to ensure that everyone can use them correctly.

1. Composition and concentration

The main ingredients of erythromycin ointment and erythromycin eye ointment are both erythromycin, but their concentrations are different. The concentration of erythromycin in erythromycin ointment is 1%, while the concentration of erythromycin eye ointment is 0.5%. This difference in concentration determines their scope of application and therapeutic effect. If erythromycin eye ointment is used for skin infection, it may not achieve the desired therapeutic effect due to insufficient concentration; conversely, if erythromycin ointment is used on the eyes, it may cause irritation due to excessive concentration.

II. Scope of application

Erythromycin ointment

Erythromycin ointment is mainly used to treat skin infections and skin infectious diseases, such as impetigo, furuncle, skin trauma, small area burns, ulcer surface infection and acne vulgaris. It can also be used to prevent and treat bacterial angular cheilitis. In addition, erythromycin ointment can also be used to relieve nasal dryness and prevent nosebleeds.

Erythromycin eye ointment

Erythromycin eye ointment is mainly used for eye infections, such as trachoma, conjunctivitis, blepharitis and external eye infections. It can also be used to prevent wound inflammation, treat boils, and relieve skin redness and inflammation. In addition, erythromycin eye ointment can also be used to treat local infections such as bacterial otitis externa and nasal vestibulitis.

3. Preparation process and sterility requirements

The preparation process of erythromycin eye ointment requires aseptic operation, high purity requirements for the main drug, and extremely fine particle size to reduce eye irritation. However, the preparation process of erythromycin ointment does not require aseptic operation, and the requirements for particle size are relatively loose. Therefore, erythromycin ointment is contraindicated for eye infections.

4. Precautions for use

Erythromycin ointment

Allergic people : People who are allergic to erythromycin are prohibited from using erythromycin ointment.

For patients with extensive burns, scalds and trauma : Erythromycin ointment is contraindicated.

Usage period : It is not recommended to use it continuously for more than 1 week.

Avoid abuse : Long-term abuse of erythromycin ointment may lead to bacterial resistance and cross-resistance to macrolide antibiotics of the same class as erythromycin.

Erythromycin eye ointment

Allergic people : Patients who are allergic to erythromycin and other macrolide drugs should not use erythromycin eye ointment.

Drug interactions : Do not use erythromycin eye ointment with terfenadine to avoid adverse cardiac reactions.

Patients with impaired liver function : If the patient has impaired liver function and there is an indication for the use of erythromycin eye ointment, the dosage should be appropriately reduced and liver function should be checked regularly.

Usage period : Even if the condition improves, the medication should be taken according to the complete prescription, but it should not be abused for a long time.

V. Conclusion

Although there is only one letter difference between erythromycin ointment and erythromycin eye ointment, they have significant differences in ingredients, concentrations, scope of application, preparation process and precautions for use. Therefore, when using, everyone must choose the appropriate medicine according to their condition and the instructions of the medicine to avoid confusion. At the same time, it is very important to use antibiotics rationally. The abuse of antibiotics may lead to an increase in bacterial resistance and bring greater risks to our health.