What is the best topical treatment for abrasions from a cement floor?

From the Guidelines

For scrapes from cement floors, I recommend cleaning the wound with mild soap and water, then applying an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, Polysporin, or bacitracin, as this approach is supported by the most recent and highest quality study 1. The American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid, as updated in 2015, suggest that superficial wounds and abrasions should be thoroughly irrigated with a large volume of warm or room temperature potable water with or without soap until there is no foreign matter in the wound 1. After cleaning, the wound should be covered with an antibiotic ointment or cream and a clean occlusive dressing, as this has been shown to promote healing with less infection 1. It is essential to clean and reapply the ointment 1-3 times daily until the wound heals, and to seek medical attention promptly if signs of infection occur, such as increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus, or red streaks, or if a tetanus shot is overdue 1. Cement scrapes can be particularly concerning due to the potential for dirt and debris to lead to infection, and the rough surface can cause deeper abrasions, making proper wound care crucial 1. The use of antibiotic ointment helps prevent infection while keeping the wound moist to promote healing, as recommended by the 2010 American Heart Association and American Red Cross guidelines for first aid 1. For larger or deeper scrapes, a thorough rinse with clean running water for 5-10 minutes may be necessary to remove all debris before applying antibiotic ointment and a sterile bandage or adhesive bandage 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Directions clean the affected area apply a small amount of this product (an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger) on the area 1 to 3 times daily may be covered with a sterile bandage Directions adults and children 2 years of age and older: clean the affected area apply a small amount of this product (an amount equal to the surface area of the tip of a finger) on the area 1 to 3 times daily may be covered with a sterile bandage The best topical for scrapes from a cement floor is Neosporin (TOP) or Bacitracin (TOP), as both can be applied to cleaned affected areas.

• Apply a small amount,
• 1 to 3 times daily,
• and may be covered with a sterile bandage 2 3.

From the Research

Topical Treatments for Scrapes from Cement Floor

• The best topical treatment for scrapes from a cement floor is not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but some studies suggest the use of topical antibiotics or antimicrobial agents to prevent infection in minor wounds 4, 5, 6.
• A study comparing the wound healing properties of different topical ointments found that Aquaphor Healing Ointment (AHO) showed significant improvements in wound healing parameters compared to antibiotic-containing treatments 7.
• Another study discussed the role of antiseptics in reducing bioburden in chronic wounds and found that octenidine dihydrochloride and polyhexanide are effective and well-tolerated antiseptics in wound management 8.
• A study evaluating the effects of topical antimicrobial agents on Acinetobacter baumannii found that mafenide acetate, mupirocin, and triple- and double-antibiotic combinations were effective against the bacteria, while silver sulfadiazine was not 6.
• The use of topical antibiotics, such as bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B sulfate, has been shown to result in significantly lower infection rates compared to petrolatum control in uncomplicated soft-tissue wounds 5.