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System Formulary Update
Polymyxin B Ophthalmic Combinations

Situation

The Polymyxin B Ophthalmic Combinations Class Review was approved by the System Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee in August 2019.

Background

• The following ophthalmic medications were reviewed: bacitracin/polymyxin B, bacitracin/neomycin/polymyxin B, neomycin/polymyxin B/gramicidin, polymyxin B/trimethoprim
• Note: steroid-containing polymyxin B ophthalmic formulations were not included in this review and are not being standardized at this time

 Assessment/Recommendation

Go-Live: Tuesday December 15, 2020

System P&T voted to include the following products on the UNC Health System Drug Formulary:

• Bacitracin 500 units/polymyxin B 10,000 units ophthalmic ointment
• Trimethoprim 1 mg/polymyxin B 10,000 units ophthalmic solution

Note: Stock of these formulary products may vary at individual entities

As a result, the following products will be removed from the UNC Health System Drug Formulary:

• Bacitracin 400 units/ neomycin 3.5 mg/polymyxin B 10,000 units ophthalmic ointment
• Neomycin 1.75 mg/polymyxin B 10,000 units/gramicidin 0.25 mg ophthalmic solution