Drug · FAERS side-effect profile with label screen
Bacitracin Zinc side effects: what 2,365 FDA adverse event reports show
Drug class
Not stated in label
Brand names
Sheffield Bacitracin Zinc
openFDA label
Who reports
2,365 reports · 62% serious · 212 with death outcome · 59% female
openFDA FAERS counts, all years, deduplication not applied
Used for
First aid to help prevent infection in minor: cuts scrapes burns
FDA label, Indications and Usage
Boxed warning
None in the current label
How to read this page. FAERS is a spontaneous-reporting system: counts are not incidence rates and a signal is not proof of causation.
Each reaction below is run through an automated screen — is the term in the FDA label (known), in the indications (the disease being treated), an administrative/coding term, or none of these (unlabeled)?
That screen is mechanical text matching, not a causality assessment. The 30 hand-written Bradford Hill assessments are on the causality assessment page. Not medical advice.
Causality screen of the 40 strongest signals
Reporting / coding artifact 2No label text to screen 38
What the badges mean
- Reporting / coding artifact An administrative, monitoring or exposure term (product issue, off-label use, 'test normal', overdose...). Not a biological reaction; a high PRR here reflects how reports are coded.
- Not in label — unassessed Not found in the label text, not an artifact pattern. This is a genuine candidate for a formal causality assessment (Bradford Hill / WHO-UMC); it has NOT had one here.
- No label text to screen No validated FDA label was retrievable for this product, so the screen could not run. Disproportionality only.
Strongest disproportionality signals
Flagged terms (PRR ≥ 2, χ² ≥ 4, n ≥ 10), ranked by PRR; infinite PRRs (no comparator reports) excluded. The EBGM column is a second, shrinkage-based estimate (MGPS) with its 5th percentile EB05 and the BCPNN IC025; a pair flagged by PRR alone is marked PRR-only and should be read as fragile. The strata column recomputes the PRR on serious reports only and flags pairs whose reports are unusually skewed by sex or come mostly from consumers rather than clinicians. 157 further terms are in the interactive explorer. Reaction links open the term's cross-drug page.
Show:
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug hypersensitivity | 354 | 16.2 14.7–17.8ROR 18.9 · χ² 5,065 / p <1e-300 | 16.1 EB05 14.8 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.1 · ♀ 85% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| End stage renal disease | 30 | 14.5 10.1–20.6ROR 14.6 · χ² 362 / p 5e-81 | 14.1 EB05 10.1 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 13.4 | no trial data cached |
| Anhedonia | 41 | 13.7 10.1–18.6ROR 14.0 · χ² 471 / p 8e-105 | 13.5 EB05 10.2 · IC025 +3.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 14.1 · ♀ 30% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Atelectasis | 15 | 13.7 8.3–22.7ROR 13.8 · χ² 164 / p 6e-38 | 12.7 EB05 7.5 · IC025 +2.4 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 12.9 | no trial data cached |
| Renal tubular necrosis | 14 | 12.6 7.5–21.3ROR 12.7 · χ² 138 / p 3e-32 | 11.3 EB05 6.5 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 11.8 | no trial data cached |
| Multi-organ failure | 24 | 12.1 8.1–18.1ROR 12.3 · χ² 234 / p 4e-53 | 11.4 EB05 7.7 · IC025 +2.6 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 11.3 · ♀ 35% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Dermatitis contact | 15 | 11.7 7.1–19.4ROR 11.8 · χ² 136 / p 8e-32 | 10.4 EB05 6.2 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious n=10 | no trial data cached |
| Renal injury | 39 | 11.5 8.4–15.7ROR 11.7 · χ² 365 / p 1e-81 | 11.1 EB05 8.3 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 10.7 · ♀ 36% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Mental status changes | 36 | 11.5 8.3–15.9ROR 11.7 · χ² 334 / p 5e-75 | 11.0 EB05 8.1 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 11.8 · ♀ 37% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Ocular hyperaemia | 60 | 11.4 8.9–14.6ROR 11.7 · χ² 559 / p 6e-124 | 11.1 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.7 · ♀ 81% (drug 59%) · 82% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Eye discharge | 13 | 11.3 6.6–19.4ROR 11.3 · χ² 112 / p 2e-26 | 9.7 EB05 5.5 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious n=5 | no trial data cached |
| Chronic kidney disease | 94 | 10.9 8.9–13.3ROR 11.3 · χ² 836 / p 5e-184 | 10.7 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 10.2 | no trial data cached |
| Bacteraemia | 14 | 10.6 6.3–17.8ROR 10.6 · χ² 112 / p 2e-26 | 9.1 EB05 5.3 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 9.9 | no trial data cached |
| Osteopenia | 18 | 10.5 6.6–16.6ROR 10.5 · χ² 145 / p 1e-33 | 9.3 EB05 5.9 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 11.5 | no trial data cached |
| Eyelid oedema | 13 | 9.9 5.7–16.9ROR 9.9 · χ² 95 / p 1e-22 | 8.2 EB05 4.8 · IC025 +2.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 5.2 | no trial data cached |
| Eye pruritus | 34 | 9.1 6.6–12.8ROR 9.3 · χ² 239 / p 4e-54 | 8.5 EB05 6.3 · IC025 +2.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.5 · ♀ 85% (drug 59%) · 88% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Eye swelling | 38 | 9.1 6.6–12.5ROR 9.2 · χ² 267 / p 3e-60 | 8.6 EB05 6.4 · IC025 +2.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 2.8 · 76% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Pulmonary mass | 15 | 8.9 5.4–14.8ROR 9.0 · χ² 98 / p 2e-23 | 7.6 EB05 4.7 · IC025 +2.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 9.1 | no trial data cached |
| Hiatus hernia | 13 | 8.9 5.2–15.3ROR 8.9 · χ² 83 / p 4e-20 | 7.3 EB05 4.4 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 8.7 | no trial data cached |
| Eye infection | 11 | 8.7 4.8–15.7ROR 8.7 · χ² 67 / p 1e-16 | 6.9 EB05 3.9 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious n=8 | no trial data cached |
| Generalised oedema | 12 | 8.6 4.9–15.2ROR 8.7 · χ² 74 / p 5e-18 | 7.0 EB05 4.1 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 8.9 | no trial data cached |
| Skin laceration | 10 | 8.2 4.4–15.2ROR 8.2 · χ² 56 / p 3e-14 | 6.4 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 11.1 | no trial data cached |
| Fear | 25 | 8.2 5.5–12.1ROR 8.3 · χ² 151 / p 7e-35 | 7.4 EB05 5.2 · IC025 +2.2 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 9.5 · ♀ 33% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Wound infection | 10 | 8.2 4.4–15.2ROR 8.2 · χ² 56 / p 4e-14 | 6.4 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.3 | no trial data cached |
| Cardiomegaly | 11 | 7.9 4.4–14.2ROR 7.9 · χ² 59 / p 7e-15 | 6.3 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.6 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.5 | no trial data cached |
| Brain oedema | 11 | 7.7 4.3–13.9ROR 7.8 · χ² 58 / p 1e-14 | 6.2 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.6 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.3 | no trial data cached |
| Photophobia (light sensitivity) | 16 | 7.6 4.7–12.4ROR 7.6 · χ² 85 / p 1e-20 | 6.5 EB05 4.1 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.4 | no trial data cached |
| Staphylococcal infection | 28 | 7.5 5.2–10.8ROR 7.6 · χ² 151 / p 4e-35 | 6.8 EB05 4.9 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.4 · ♀ 80% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Economic problem | 13 | 7.5 4.3–12.9ROR 7.5 · χ² 67 / p 2e-16 | 6.2 EB05 3.8 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 7.6 | no trial data cached |
| Eye pain | 46 | 7.4 5.5–9.8ROR 7.5 · χ² 248 / p 3e-56 | 7.0 EB05 5.4 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 3.1 · 84% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Renal failure (kidney failure) | 109 | 7.2 6.0–8.7ROR 7.5 · χ² 582 / p 8e-129 | 7.0 EB05 6.0 · IC025 +2.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.8 · ♀ 32% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Tachypnoea | 11 | 7.2 4.0–13.0ROR 7.2 · χ² 53 / p 2e-13 | 5.8 EB05 3.4 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.9 | no trial data cached |
| Toxic epidermal necrolysis (severe skin peeling reaction) | 12 | 7.1 4.0–12.4ROR 7.1 · χ² 56 / p 3e-14 | 5.7 EB05 3.5 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.6 | no trial data cached |
| Hypophagia | 20 | 7.0 4.5–10.8ROR 7.0 · χ² 97 / p 4e-23 | 6.1 EB05 4.2 · IC025 +1.9 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.5 | no trial data cached |
| Device related infection | 12 | 6.9 3.9–12.1ROR 6.9 · χ² 55 / p 7e-14 | 5.6 EB05 3.4 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 6.6 | no trial data cached |
| Eye irritation | 42 | 6.7 5.0–9.0ROR 6.8 · χ² 198 / p 3e-45 | 6.3 EB05 4.8 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.4 · 79% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Tubulointerstitial nephritis | 14 | 6.6 3.9–11.2ROR 6.7 · χ² 61 / p 2e-15 | 5.6 EB05 3.5 · IC025 +1.6 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 5.7 | no trial data cached |
| Hypoxia (low oxygen) | 26 | 6.6 4.5–9.6ROR 6.6 · χ² 117 / p 1e-27 | 6.0 EB05 4.2 · IC025 +1.9 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.2 · ♀ 33% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Lacrimation increased | 22 | 6.5 4.3–9.9ROR 6.6 · χ² 98 / p 3e-23 | 5.8 EB05 4.0 · IC025 +1.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 5.7 · 81% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Acute respiratory failure | 14 | 6.5 3.8–10.9ROR 6.5 · χ² 60 / p 6e-15 | 5.5 EB05 3.4 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.1 | no trial data cached |
Trial evidence (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Trial cross-check not yet run for this drug (ClinicalTrials.gov pull covers the 800 most-reported drugs first).
Most frequently reported reactions
By raw co-report count, regardless of disproportionality. Common terms here are often the illness itself or generic outcomes.
| Reaction | Reports | PRR 95% CI · ROR · χ²/p | EBGM EB05 · IC025 | Label screen | Serious-only & strata | Trial cross-check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drug hypersensitivity | 354 | 16.2 14.7–17.8ROR 18.9 · χ² 5,065 / p <1e-300 | 16.1 EB05 14.8 · IC025 +3.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.1 · ♀ 85% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Renal failure (kidney failure) | 109 | 7.2 6.0–8.7ROR 7.5 · χ² 582 / p 8e-129 | 7.0 EB05 6.0 · IC025 +2.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.8 · ♀ 32% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Chronic kidney disease | 94 | 10.9 8.9–13.3ROR 11.3 · χ² 836 / p 5e-184 | 10.7 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 10.2 | no trial data cached |
| Acute kidney injury (sudden kidney damage) | 89 | 5.2 4.2–6.4ROR 5.3 · χ² 298 / p 4e-67 | 5.0 EB05 4.2 · IC025 +2.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.8 · ♀ 38% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Emotional distress | 63 | 4.6 3.6–5.9ROR 4.7 · χ² 175 / p 4e-40 | 4.5 EB05 3.6 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.7 | no trial data cached |
| Ocular hyperaemia | 60 | 11.4 8.9–14.6ROR 11.7 · χ² 559 / p 6e-124 | 11.1 EB05 8.9 · IC025 +3.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.7 · ♀ 81% (drug 59%) · 82% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Injury | 51 | 6.4 4.9–8.4ROR 6.5 · χ² 228 / p 1e-51 | 6.1 EB05 4.8 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.2 | no trial data cached |
| Eye pain | 46 | 7.4 5.5–9.8ROR 7.5 · χ² 248 / p 3e-56 | 7.0 EB05 5.4 · IC025 +2.3 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 3.1 · 84% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Eye irritation | 42 | 6.7 5.0–9.0ROR 6.8 · χ² 198 / p 3e-45 | 6.3 EB05 4.8 · IC025 +2.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 7.4 · 79% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Anhedonia | 41 | 13.7 10.1–18.6ROR 14.0 · χ² 471 / p 8e-105 | 13.5 EB05 10.2 · IC025 +3.1 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 14.1 · ♀ 30% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Renal injury | 39 | 11.5 8.4–15.7ROR 11.7 · χ² 365 / p 1e-81 | 11.1 EB05 8.3 · IC025 +2.8 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 10.7 · ♀ 36% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Febrile neutropenia | 38 | 5.1 3.7–7.0ROR 5.2 · χ² 121 / p 2e-28 | 4.8 EB05 3.7 · IC025 +1.7 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 4.7 | no trial data cached |
| Eye swelling | 38 | 9.1 6.6–12.5ROR 9.2 · χ² 267 / p 3e-60 | 8.6 EB05 6.4 · IC025 +2.5 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 2.8 · 76% consumer | no trial data cached |
| Unevaluable event | 37 | 4.3 3.1–6.0ROR 4.4 · χ² 92 / p 5e-22 | 4.1 EB05 3.1 · IC025 +1.5 3/3 methods agree | Reporting / coding artifact | serious PRR 7.1 · ♀ 34% (drug 59%) | no trial data cached |
| Cellulitis (skin infection) | 36 | 6.3 4.6–8.8ROR 6.4 · χ² 156 / p 3e-36 | 5.9 EB05 4.4 · IC025 +2.0 3/3 methods agree | No label text to screen label has no adverse-reaction text | serious PRR 6.4 | no trial data cached |
Unlabeled candidate signals
Every screened signal with n ≥ 20 was either labeled, an indication term, or an artifact pattern — no unlabeled candidate stood out in the top signals.
Want to assess one of these properly? The runbook describes the Bradford Hill / trial-evidence workflow used on the assessment page, and handoff_top1000_signals.csv lists the strongest unassessed pairs across all drugs.
Common questions
What are the most reported side effects of Bacitracin Zinc?
In FDA FAERS, the most frequently co-reported reaction terms for Bacitracin Zinc are drug hypersensitivity, renal failure, chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, emotional distress, ocular hyperaemia. These are report counts, not rates: FAERS has no denominator, reporting is voluntary and uneven, and a term can be reported because of the illness being treated rather than the drug.
Does Bacitracin Zinc have an FDA boxed warning?
No. The FDA label retrieved for Bacitracin Zinc has no boxed warning; see the label's Warnings and Precautions for the recognised risks.
Do FAERS signals prove that Bacitracin Zinc causes these side effects?
No. A disproportionality signal (PRR, ROR) means a reaction is reported more often with this drug than with others in the database. That can reflect a real effect, but also the disease being treated, stimulated reporting after news or litigation, co-medications, or how reports are coded. Causality needs temporality, dose-response, biological plausibility, consistency across data sources and, ideally, trial or cohort evidence. This page screens each term against the FDA label and ClinicalTrials.gov results; it does not establish causation.
Sources & methods
- FDA label via openFDA (set ID 0f446f48-f55d-4de7-b447-285d7a329c84, effective 20231120; matched on
openfda.generic_name.exact:"BACITRACIN ZINC") - Bayesian shrinkage measures computed offline over all 1,317,300 cached pairs: BCPNN information component (IC, with Norén closed-form IC025) and MGPS empirical-Bayes geometric mean (EBGM, EB05) with a two-component gamma prior fitted by maximum marginal likelihood (α₁=0.57, β₁=0.02, α₂=1.42, β₂=0.70, w=0.17); unstratified
- FAERS pair statistics from the OpenPV build of 2026-09-14 (openFDA
count=aggregation, fieldpatient.drug.openfda.generic_name.exact, 197 reaction terms, min 3 co-reports); PRR/ROR with 95% CI, chi-square with Yates correction - Serious-only and stratified counts (serious:1, patient.patientsex, primarysource.qualification) from openFDA count queries; serious-only PRR uses the drug serious report total and the term global serious total (N_serious=11,882,979); strata shown only when n ≥ 20
- Seriousness and sex counts from openFDA
count=serious,patient.patientsex,seriousnessdeath
Page generated 2026-10-08. Label and PubChem text are retrieved automatically and may lag the current label; always check the current prescribing information. OpenPV is a beta research tool of the Open Source Medicine Foundation.