What are the primary components of Polytrim?

Polytrim, an ophthalmic solution used primarily to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, contains two active ingredients: trimethoprim and polymyxin B. Trimethoprim is an antibiotic that inhibits bacterial dihydrofolate reductase, disrupting folic acid synthesis, and effectively suppressing the growth of bacteria. Polymyxin B, on the other hand, is a polypeptide antibiotic that disrupts the bacterial cell membrane, leading to bacterial cell death.

The combination of these two components makes Polytrim particularly effective against a broad spectrum of susceptible bacteria that cause eye infections. The synergistic effect enhances the overall antibacterial activity of the formulation, allowing it to combat resistant strains more effectively than either antibiotic could alone.

Understanding this combination is key, as it showcases the importance of using different mechanisms of action to improve therapeutic outcomes in treating bacterial infections.