mupirocin at a glance
Medicine class
Topical antibiotic
Main roles
Local bacterial skin infections, infected minor injuries and staphylococcal nasal carriage
Application
Use only at the site intended for the prescribed formulation
Food
Food does not affect topical or nasal use
What is mupirocin used for?
Selected products are licensed for:
Skin infections such as impetigo, folliculitis and furunculosis caused by susceptible bacteria.
Secondary bacterial infection of small cuts, sutured wounds and abrasions caused by susceptible Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.
Elimination of nasal carriage of staphylococci, including MRSA, using the nasal formulation.
How does mupirocin work?
Mupirocin blocks a bacterial enzyme needed to make proteins. This stops susceptible bacteria growing; high local concentrations after application can kill them.
mupirocin preparations and strengths
Cream
Route: Cutaneous
Strengths: 2%
Ointment
Route: Cutaneous
Strengths: 20 mg/g, 2%, 2% w/w
Nasal ointment
Route: Nasal
How to take mupirocin
Follow the instructions for the specific skin or nasal product prescribed.
Wash your hands before and after application.
Apply skin cream with clean cotton wool or gauze; a suitable dressing may be used if advised.
For nasal ointment, place it inside the front of each nostril and gently press the sides of the nose together to spread it.
Do not mix skin mupirocin with other preparations at the same site.
Keep it away from the eyes. Rinse thoroughly with water if accidental eye contact occurs.
Do not put skin cream or skin ointment inside the nose; use a nasal formulation when intranasal treatment is intended.
mupirocin side effects
Common or expected effects
- Burning, itching or redness at the application site
- Local rash, irritation or contact dermatitis
- Dryness or stinging with skin preparations
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction with widespread rash, hives, facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or collapse
- Severe local irritation or sensitisation
- Substantial or persistent diarrhoea or abdominal cramps, particularly with blood, mucus or fever
mupirocin in pregnancy
Human pregnancy experience is limited. Animal studies have not shown fetal harm, but use is advised only after a clinician has considered expected benefit and possible risk.
mupirocin while breastfeeding
Topical mupirocin can be used during breastfeeding for a full-term, healthy infant because systemic absorption is limited. Wash hands, prevent infant contact with treated skin, and thoroughly remove mupirocin from a treated nipple before feeding. Seek specialist advice for a premature or unwell infant.
mupirocin interactions
No clinically significant systemic medicine interactions have been identified, although formal interaction data are limited.
Other topical preparations at the same site
Mixing products can dilute mupirocin, reduce antibacterial activity and affect formulation stability.
Common questions about mupirocin
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is mupirocin an antibiotic?
Yes. It is a topical antibiotic that blocks bacterial protein production.
Why is mupirocin used inside the nose?
The nasal ointment is used to eliminate carriage of staphylococci, including MRSA.
Can skin mupirocin be used inside the nose?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.