Not any better than plain old Vaseline.
According to...
Smack DP, Harrington AC, Dunn C, Howard RS, Szkutnik AJ, Krivda SJ. Infection and allergy incidence in ambulatory surgery patients using white petrolatum vs. bacitracin ointment. A randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1996;276:972-7.
... bacitracin (an antibiotic used in triple antibiotic ointment or Polysporin) usage after outpatient dermatologic procedures has a statistically similar rate of infection to white petrolatum (AKA Vaseline) usage. In fact, white petrolatum not only kept infection rates very low, but it also had no allergic reactions, unlike bacitracin.
1 oz of bacitracin ointment costs about $3
13 oz of white petrolatum costs about $3
It appears that these ointments serve as an occlusive dressing and keep the wound clean and moist.
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