Sulfacetamide

Generic name: Sulfacetamide sodium
Dosage form: ophthalmic ointment
Drug class:Ophthalmic anti-infectives

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 1, 2021.

STERILE

Rx Only

DESCRIPTION:

Sulfacetamide Sodium Ointment USP, 10%, is a sterile, topical anti-bacterial agent for ophthalmic use. Each gram contains Sulfacetamide Sodium USP, 100 mg in an ointment base of white petrolatum and mineral oil. Sulfacetamide sodium is an odorless, white, crystalline powder. It is freely soluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, and practically insoluble in benzene, chloroform, and ether. Chemically it is N-sulfanilylacetamide monosodium salt monohydrate, and is represented by the following structural formula:

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY:

Microbiology:

The sulfonamides are bacteriostatic agents and the spectrum of activity is similar for all. Sulfonamides inhibit bacterial synthesis of dihydrofolic acid by preventing the condensation of pteridine with aminobenzoic acid through competitive inhibition of the enzyme dihydropteroate synthetase. Resistant strains have altered dihydropteroate synthetase with reduced affinity for sulfonamides or produce increased quantities of aminobenzoic acid.

Topically applied sulfonamides are considered active against susceptible strains of the following common bacterial eye pathogens: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus (viridans group), Haemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella species, and Enterobacter species. Topically applied sulfonamides do not provide adequate coverage against Neisseria species, Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeroginosa. A significant percentage of staphylococcal isolates are completely resistant to sulfa drugs.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE:

For the treatment of conjunctivitis and other superficial ocular infections due to...