Mupirocin 2.0%

Mupirocin ointment is an antibiotic ointment that is prescribed to cure bacterial skin infections, including impetigo (IM-pe-TYE-go). Mupirocin ointment eradicates skin infections by killing the bacteria that cause them, including “Staph” bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) or “Strep” bacteria (Streptococcus pyogenes). It destroys the bacteria by preventing the bacteria from being able to produce protein.

Bactroban brand of mupirocin by GSK was initially the first brand FDA approved in 1987, then Centany brand was introduced in 2002, and now generic brands of mupirocin are also available. This ointment is prescribed, and it is not an over-the-counter drug.

How to use this Mupirocin ointment?

• Your doctor will inform you how often a day the cream/ointment should be applied to the school sores.
• It is crucial to continue applying the cream/ointment for as long as your doctor recommends to ensure that the medicine has sufficient time to kill the skin bugs and prevent the infection from recurring.
• When applying the cream/ointment, avoid contact with the eyes and mouth.
• Before applying cream to the infected area, soak the school sores with a wet cloth and remove any crusts.
• The cloths to be applied on the skin sores should be washed or disposed off after application.

Uses of Mupirocin Ointment

Mupirocin ointment is utilized to treat bacterial infections of the skin like impetigo and infected wounds and is also employed in the treatment of nasal colonization by specific antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Mupirocin ointment (topical) is FDA-approved for topical administration to treat impetigo caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

Bactroban nasal ointment is FDA-indicated for eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization in adult and pediatric patients (12 years of age or older) and healthcare workers as part of a total infection control program to minimize the risk of infection in patients at high risk of MRSA infection during hospital outbreaks of disease with this microorganism.

When mupirocin ointment is applied to infected wounds, it is an off-label use.

What are the side effects of Mupirocin Ointment ?

The following side effects should improve over time as your body adjusts to the medication. Inform your healthcare provider immediately if you still have these symptoms or if they occur in increased severity over time.

Common Side Effects

• Headache (2%)
• Pain or stinging upon application (up to 2%; more with ointment)
• Rash (1%)
• Nausea (1%)
• Other Side Effects
• Itching
• Skin irritation
• Dizziness

Precautions

• Take mupirocin for as long as your healthcare professional (HCP) told you. Don’t quit using the medication sooner than told even if your skin appears to be better. Your infection could not be fully cleared. It could recur and be more difficult to cure.
• Wash your hands first and then after applying mupirocin. Apply the medicine using a new clean cotton swab or gauze pad to your infected area of skin. This prevents spreading the infection or making it worse.
• Apply mupirocin only to a small area of the skin. Do not put the medicine into your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina (mucous membranes). Otherwise, it could irritate them. Wash your eyes thoroughly with water if you get mupirocin in your eyes by accident.
• Once you’ve applied mupirocin, you may apply a sterile (clean) gauze pad to cover and bandage the area, unless your HCP told you not to.
• You may experience some mild irritation where you put mupirocin on your skin. Inform your HCP if any skin irritation is uncomfortable or does not resolve.
• Do not use any other lotions, creams, ointments, or other topical products on the same skin area as mupirocin simultaneously. We do not know what the effects are when mupirocin is used together with other topical products on the infected area. It may be best not to use any other topical products on the treated skin area until you have completed your mupirocin treatment course.
• Don’t apply mupirocin ointment to skin that’s at or near any tubing that’s put into a vein. The medicine might cause fungal infections that are difficult to treat to occur there.
• Tell your HCP if your skin infection doesn’t get better within 3 to 5 days of applying mupirocin or if your skin infection worsens. Your HCP can determine if you need other treatment.