The safety of topical erythromycin

The prevention of allergic complications depends on the use of topical medications which have proved to be rare sensitizers. This is particularly true for stasis ulcers and eczemas which are notoriously readily sensitized. Topical erythromycin has proved to be such a non-sensitizing topical antibiotic. In a series of 60 patients with stasis ulcers, erythromycin in the form of Ilotycin ointment (erythromycin in petrolatum) was applied. Not a single instance of allergic sensitization occurred. No instances of sensitization with positive patch tests to topical erythromycin have been reported. Maximization tests with topical erythromycin did not produce sensitization. Topical erythromycin, an effective antibiotic, should be substituted for neomycin which is a common sensitizer.