ABSTRACT
Gramicidin is a heterogeneous mixture of 6 peptide antibiotics (PubChem) obtained from the soil bacterium Bacillus brevis. This chapter provides monographs of gramicidin which have caused contact allergy/allergic contact dermatitis. The monographs present: identification section; contact allergy (general population, patients with dermatitis, case reports and case series); cross-reactions; patch test sensitization; photocontact allergy; and immediate contact reactions (contact urticaria). The identification section presents IUPAC names, synonyms, CAS and EC numbers, structural and chemical formulas, Merck Index monographs, and advises on patch testing. Gramicidin C or S is a cyclic, ten-amino acid polypeptide and gramicidins A, B, D are linear. Gramicidin is one of the two principal components of tyrothricin. It is active against most gram-positive bacteria and some gram-negative organisms. Gramicidin D is used primarily as a topical antibiotic for the treatment of skin lesions, surface wounds and eye infections. The chapter also covers an extensive amount of information to benefit dermatologists, allergists, and all others interested in drug allergy.
