Does anyone know if Neosporin (an over-the-counter topical antibiotic containing bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, which is used for fighting infection in wounds) or if an equivalent alternative brand is available in Switzerland?
I ask because I've recently cut my arm and the wound had gotten infected. The local pharmacy sold me a bottle of Merfen, which seems to have worked well enough (my arm hasn't fallen off yet, and things are healing well), but it's a minor hassle to use: Merfen is a liquid solution, so it doesn't stay put. Indeed, it seems to run everywhere while I'm trying to put an adhesive bandage on it. Neosporin is more of a gel (it contains petroleum jelly) so it stays right where it is applied.
I'm unsure how what's in it compares to Neosporin but my mother-in-law tends to keep us well stocked with " Bepanthen " which has seemed to do well at keeping me in good shape when I've cut or scratched myself.
I believe the "Plus" one has disinfectant in it as well as whatever healing type things are in it.
Additionally:
If you have a tube of neosporin with you, or packaging or maybe a printout from computer, bring it with you to the pharmacy and show it to them. They should be able to help you sort out if they have something with the same things in it or what is comparable.
They don't have Neosporin here, but I went into my local Apotheke and told them what I was looking for. They recommended Vita-Merfen, same kind of formula, that seem to work well. I stocked on on Neosporin when I went home though.
It is used in the prevention and fighting of infection and speeding the healing of wounds, although the use of antibiotics has raised common concerns .
The original ointment contains three different antibiotics: bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B, in a relatively low molecular weight patented base of cocoa butter, cottonseed oil, sodium pyruvate, tocopheryl acetate, and petroleum jelly.
The generic name for these products, regardless of the base, is "Triple Antibiotic Ointment".
I went to a lecture given by MD Andersen just a month ago (a large well-respected hospital in Texas) and they said not to use Neosporin, they recommended just wash the area with plain soap (like Ivory or Neutrogena--no perfumes) and water. Bandage for a few days, that's all. They said we need our own good critters to help heal, Neosporin kills all the critters, not good.
Just to add (and probably more important than antibiotic cream) - make sure your tetanus is up to date.
Mine was several years out of date then my mum was telling me about the lady living near her who had recently died after jabbing her lower leg whilst gardening. It wasn't a particularly nasty gash and she just washed it off, gave it a squirt of antiseptic and left it.
Needless to say, I got myself off to the doctor and had it done.
Thanks to all for the replies. My main concern was for something that would be a bit thicker than an aqueous solution, so it wouldn't get all over the place. A disinfectant would be fine; the antibiotics aren't needed so long as the disinfectant is reasonably effective (and based on some reading, the stuff in Merfen is effective).
Washing a wound out with soap and water is a good idea (and one that I always do), but sometimes things still get infected and it's nice to have something to help treat the infection. The Vita-Merfen and Bepanthen Plus creams look to fit the bill.
Oh, MD Andersen also said not to use alcohol, iodine, betadine or any other "disinfectant", as it kills all the good critters that will heal you fast....just wash with plain soap and water. They also said not to use antibacterial soap, it's the reason for the rise of the super-bugs.