Your Patients Can't Find Bacitracin — Here's How You Can Help

When patients call your office saying they can't fill their Bacitracin prescription, it can be frustrating for everyone. The current shortage of Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment means your staff may be fielding more of these calls than usual. This guide gives you practical steps, alternative prescribing options, and workflow tips to manage the situation efficiently.

For a clinical overview of the shortage, see our provider briefing on the Bacitracin shortage.

Current Availability: What's in Stock and What's Not

Here's the availability snapshot as of March 2026:

• Bacitracin topical ointment (OTC) — Widely available. Patients can purchase at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Amazon, and most drugstores without a prescription. Typical cost: $5–$13 per tube.
• Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment (Rx) — Active shortage. Padagis US temporarily discontinued the 3.5g tube. Estimated resupply: October 2026. Very limited or unavailable at most pharmacies.
• Combination products (OTC) — Neosporin and Polysporin remain available for over-the-counter wound care.
• Bacitracin for injection — Permanently withdrawn from market per FDA request.

Why Patients Can't Find It

The primary driver of the current shortage is the temporary manufacturing discontinuation by Padagis US, one of the few producers of Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment. Key factors:

• Limited manufacturers — Few companies produce this niche ophthalmic product, making supply fragile.
• Extended timeline — The 18-month estimated shortage (March 2025 to October 2026) is unusually long, creating sustained pressure.
• Patient confusion — Some patients may not distinguish between the OTC topical form (available) and the Rx ophthalmic form (shortage), leading to unnecessary concern.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Practical Steps

Step 1: Clarify Which Form the Patient Needs

Many calls may be resolved simply by clarifying the formulation. If a patient needs Bacitracin for a minor cut or scrape, they likely need the OTC topical ointment, which is readily available. Direct them to any pharmacy or recommend purchasing online for convenience.

Step 2: Prescribe an Available Alternative for Eye Infections

For patients who need Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment, consider switching to:

• Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (0.5%) — The most direct substitute. Covers similar gram-positive organisms. Well-tolerated. Generic and affordable ($10–$30).
• Tobramycin ophthalmic drops/ointment — Appropriate when gram-negative coverage is needed.
• Fluoroquinolone ophthalmic drops (Moxifloxacin, Ciprofloxacin) — For broader-spectrum needs. Reserve per antimicrobial stewardship principles.
• Polymyxin B/Trimethoprim ophthalmic drops — Broad coverage, well-established alternative.

Step 3: Recommend Medfinder to Patients

For patients who want to search for availability before switching medications, direct them to Medfinder for Providers. This free tool allows patients to search by medication and zip code to find pharmacies with current stock. It's especially useful for locating hard-to-find medications during shortages.

Step 4: Connect Patients with Compounding Pharmacies

If a patient specifically requires Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment (e.g., due to allergy to alternatives), a compounding pharmacy may be able to prepare it. Ensure the pharmacy follows USP <797> standards for sterile ophthalmic compounding. Your local pharmacist network may be able to identify compounding resources in your area.

Step 5: Update Your Prescribing Workflow

Proactively update your practice to reduce reactive work:

• Add a note to EHR templates flagging Bacitracin ophthalmic as limited availability
• Pre-select Erythromycin ophthalmic as the default first-line ophthalmic antibiotic ointment
• Brief front-desk and triage staff on the shortage so they can address basic patient questions

Alternatives at a Glance

Here's a quick reference for alternative prescribing:

• Eye infections (was Bacitracin ophthalmic) → Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment (first-line), Tobramycin drops, or fluoroquinolone drops
• Minor skin wounds (was Bacitracin topical) → OTC Bacitracin (still available), Polysporin, Neosporin, or petroleum jelly
• Skin infections needing Rx → Mupirocin 2% (Bactroban), effective against MRSA. Cost: $15–$75 cash, as low as $10 with coupons

For detailed alternative comparisons, share our patient guide on Bacitracin alternatives with your patients.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

• Proactive communication — Add a note to your patient portal or phone system informing patients about the ophthalmic shortage and the switch to Erythromycin. This reduces inbound calls.
• Batch prescription changes — If you have multiple patients on Bacitracin ophthalmic, consider proactively switching them rather than waiting for refill failures.
• Track the shortage — Assign a staff member to monitor ASHP shortage updates for Bacitracin ophthalmic and notify you when resupply occurs.
• Patient education handout — Create or share a one-page handout explaining the shortage and alternatives. Our patient articles on the Bacitracin shortage update and how to find Bacitracin in stock are shareable resources.

Final Thoughts

The Bacitracin ophthalmic shortage is a temporary but extended disruption that requires proactive management. By switching to Erythromycin ophthalmic ointment, leveraging Medfinder for Providers, and updating your workflows, you can minimize patient frustration and ensure continuity of care.

For additional provider resources, see our guide on helping patients save money on Bacitracin.