Both the pharmaceutical evaluation and clinical utilization of vancomycin ointment have been investigated in the topical treatment of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. An ointment containing 2.5% of vancomycin hydrochloride was prepared using a base consisting of white petrolatum and liquid paraffin. The spreadability was 324 dyn/cm2 at 25±2°C and 65±5% RH. The particle sizes of vancomycin hydrochloride in the ointment were distributed within 10-30μm. Vancomycin hydrochloride was stable for 4 weeks at 5, 20 and 40°C. The ointment was topically applied to the infectious region of a artificial bone graft. The treatment with the vancomycin ointment was found to be effective against MRSA infection. Since no substantial distribution was observed in the blood, the effect was also shown to be regionally restricted. In addition, no appearance of vancomycin resistance after using the ointment has yet been observed in this patient.
These above findings thus indicate that vancomycin ointment is effective, useful and safe for the treatment of topical MRSA infection.
