Question

Neosporin is an antibacterial ointment used in the prevention and fighting of infection and in speeding the healing of wounds. Determine if this would be considered part of the first line of defense and which barrier category it would belong to. Explain your answers.

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

The use of ointment for bacterial treatment does not fall into the first line of defence.

The first line of defence are physical (skin,tears, mucus) and chemical barriers( white blood cells also called neutrophils) which are prepared to defend the body against infection. The skin which is one of the first line of defence is a barrier that prevents entry of microorganisms the body. When the first mechanism is not effective especially for pathogens then the second mechanism is activated to get rid of the microorganism.

The use of ointment does not belong to any barrier or defence mechanism this is because it is not a natural way of getting rid of microorganisms within the body system.