Mafenide Acetate, Topical

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antibiotic

Generic and brand names: mafenide acetate, topical; Sulfamylon

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is an antibiotic cream or solution that is put on the skin to prevent and treat skin infections in people with severe burns. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I use this medicine?

Before using this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• blood disorders such as anemia or G6PD deficiency
• kidney disease
• lung disease
• metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the blood).

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Use this medicine exactly as directed. Keep using this medicine until the burn area has healed or is ready for skin grafting. Do not stop using this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Before you use this medicine, clean the burn wound gently with a gauze pad soaked in sterile saline or Dakin's solution. Then rinse the wound with sterile saline solution. If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

If you have the solution, mix all of the powder from the packet with special sterile water. Keep mixing until all of the powder is dissolved. After it is mixed, this is a liquid medicine.

If you have the cream, wear gloves to apply the medicine to a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch. Use a thinner layer if dressings are used. Keep the burned area covered with cream at all times.

Cover the burn wound with gauze. Keep the gauze wet with the liquid medicine all the time. New liquid medicine might need to be put on the gauze every 4 to 8 hours.

Do not use any other skin products on your burn wound without your healthcare provider's approval.

This medicine is for external use only. Keep it away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you accidentally get it in these areas, rinse the area well with cool water right away. If eye irritation develops, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine is for external use only. Keep it out of your eyes.

Do not use this medicine if you have any other infection. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

You may need to have blood tests to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Skin pain, blisters or oozing, swelling, rash, itching, bleeding, peeling, unusual bruising or bleeding, tiredness.

Other: Minor irritation and burning where medicine is applied.

What products might interact with this medicine?

Do not use the following products on wounds while you are using this medicine:

• benzalkonium chloride
• Burow's solution
• hexachlorophene (PHisoHex)
• metals such as mercury and silver (used in some antiseptics)
• nitrofurazone (Furacin)
• tincture of iodine.

If you get any of these products on your wound, ask your healthcare provider what to do.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the medicine in the packets until you are ready to use it. Use the liquid medicine within 48 hours after you mix it. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.