Mupirocin

What is Mupirocin?

• Mupirocin (Bactroban; Bactroban Nasal; Centany Nasal) is an RNA synthetase inhibitor antibacterial produced by fermentation using the organism Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Mupirocin

Mupirocin molecule spacefill

Mupirocin molecule ball

What are the uses of this medicine?

• Mupirocin (Bactroban; Bactroban Nasal; Centany Nasal) used on the skin (topical use) to treat a skin infection called impetigo that is caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

How does this medicine work?

• Mupirocin is an RNA synthetase inhibitor antibacterial.
• Mupirocin inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly and specifically binding to bacterial isoleucyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase.
• Mupirocin is bactericidal at concentrations achieved by topical administration.
• Mupirocin is highly protein bound (greater than 97%) and the effect of wound secretions on the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of mupirocin has not been determined.

Who Should Not Use this medicine ?

This medicine cannot be used in patients who:

• are allergic to mupirocin or any of the ingredients in mupirocin ointment.

What drug interactions can this medicine cause?

• Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Be sure to mention any of the following:

• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• Do not mix mupirocin ointment with other lotions, creams, or ointments.

Is this medicine FDA approved?

• Initial U.S. Approval: 1987
• Mupirocin was initially isolated in 1971 from Pseudomonas fluorescens.
• It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
• In 2019, it was the 190th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions.

How should this medicine be used?

Recommended dosage:

• Apply a small amount of mupirocin ointment, with a cotton swab or gauze pad, to the affected area 3 times daily for up to 10 days.
• Cover the treated area with gauze dressing if desired.
• Re-evaluate patients not showing a clinical response within 3 to 5 days.

Administration:

• Mupirocin ointment is for use on the skin (topical).
• Do not get mupirocin ointment in your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina (mucosal surfaces).
• Apply a small amount of mupirocin ointment, with a cotton swab or gauze pad, to the affected area 3 times each day.
• It is important that you take the full course of mupirocin ointment. Do not stop early because your symptoms may disappear before the infection is fully cleared.
• Wash your hands before and after applying mupirocin ointment.
• After applying mupirocin ointment, you may cover the treated area with a clean gauze pad, unless your healthcare provider has told you to leave it uncovered.
• Talk to your healthcare provider if your skin does not improve after 3 to 5 days of treatment with mupirocin ointment.
• If you are breastfeeding and use mupirocin ointment on your breast or nipple, wash the area well before breastfeeding your child.

What are the dosage forms and brand names of this medicine?

This medicine is available in fallowing doasage form:

• As Ointment

This medicine is available in fallowing brand namesː

• Bactroban; Bactroban Nasal; Centany Nasal

What side effects can this medication cause?

The most common side effects of this medicine include:

• burning
• stinging or pain
• itching

Mupirocin ointment may cause serious side effects, including:

• severe allergic reactions
• eye irritation
• irritation in the area mupirocin ointment is used.
• a type of diarrhea called clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)
• risk of absorption of polyethylene glycol through the skin
• increased risk of infection at IV (intravenous) sites

What special precautions should I follow?

• Systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, and generalized rash, have been reported in patients treated with formulations of mupirocin, including mupirocin ointment.
• Avoid contact with the eyes. In case of accidental contact, rinse well with water.
• In the event of a sensitization or severe local irritation from mupirocin ointment, usage should be discontinued, and appropriate alternative therapy for the infection instituted.
• Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
• As with other antibacterial products, prolonged use of mupirocin ointment may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible microorganisms, including fungi.
• Mupirocin ointment is not formulated for use on mucosal surfaces. A separate formulation, mupirocin nasal ointment, is available for intranasal use.
• Polyethylene glycol can be absorbed from open wounds and damaged skin and is excreted by the kidneys. Mupirocin ointment should not be used where absorption of large quantities of polyethylene glycol is possible, especially if there is evidence of moderate or severe renal impairment.
• Mupirocin ointment should not be used with intravenous cannulae or at central intravenous sites because of the potential to promote fungal infections and antimicrobial resistance.

What to do in case of emergency/overdose?

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline of your country. In the United States, call 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose related information is also available online at poisonhelp.org/help.
• In the event that the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services. In the United States, call 911.

Can this medicine be used in pregnancy?

• There are insufficient human data to establish whether there is a drug-associated risk with mupirocin ointment in pregnant women.

Can this medicine be used in children?

• The safety and effectiveness of mupirocin ointment have been established in the age range of 2 months to 16 years.

What are the active and inactive ingredients in this medicine?

• Active Ingredient: mupirocin
• Inactive Ingredients: polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 3350

Who manufactures and distributes this medicine?

Manufactured by:

• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited
• Colvale-Bardez, Goa, India

Manufactured for:

• glenmark-01
• Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
• Mahwah, NJ

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

• Store mupirocin ointment at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).

• Dailymed label info on Mupirocin
• FDA Mupirocin

Mupirocin Resources
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