The Safety and Microbial Changes in the Use of Intranasal Neosporin®: A Prospective Study

Neosporin is an over-the-counter, FDA-approved triple-antibiotic ointment. It is widely used to treat and prevent skin infections following minor burns and injuries. Although the Neosporin® prospect indicates its use is strictly topical, it is often used intranasally by ear, nose, and throat specialists, plastic surgeons, and intensivists to prevent and treat various conditions. Nonetheless, no literature has documented the safety of intranasal Neosporin®. We designed a prospective study to assess the safety of this intervention in healthy participants and to investigate microbial changes before and after the intervention. Healthy participants will apply Neosporin® intranasally for 15 days and record daily adverse events and their severity. Nasal cultures will be drawn before and after the intervention and compared.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 65 years * Signed informed consent * Healthy volunteers Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic or recurrent nasal conditions * Current use of other intranasal medications * History of severe allergic reactions to antibiotics * History of allergy to the components of Neosporin® * Participation in another research protocol * Being a staff member or an immediate family member of a staff member * Pregnant women