mupirocin
Mupirocin is a topical antibiotic that's used to treat small areas of bacterial skin infections such as impetigo or a "Staph" infection on the skin. It comes as a cream and an ointment that are applied onto the skin a few times a day for 10 days. This medication can be used on adults or children (over the age of 2 months for the ointment, and over the age of 3 months for the cream). Although mupirocin has very few side effects, some people can experience headache, nausea, or burning at the application site.
What is Mupirocin?
What is Mupirocin used for?
Impetigo - ointment
Bacterial skin infection that happens after skin gets damaged (e.g., from a cut or other wound) - cream
How Mupirocin works
Mupirocin is an antibiotic. The medication blocks bacteria from making certain proteins they need to survive. This kills bacteria to help treat skin infections.
Drug Facts
More on Mupirocin essentials
Get your GoodRx coupon
What are the side effects of Mupirocin?
Common Side Effects
- Headache (2%)
- Burning, stinging, or pain at the application site (up to 2%; more common with ointment)
- Rash (1%)
- Nausea (1%)
Other Side Effects
- Itching
- Skin irritation
- Dizziness
Serious Side Effects
- Severe allergic reaction: rash, hives, swelling, trouble breathing
- Severe infectious diarrhea: rapid heart rate, fever, nausea, frequent episodes of diarrhea (even up to 10 to 15 per day)
Source: DailyMed
More on Mupirocin side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Burning, stinging, or pain on the application site
Rare
Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
cracked, dry, scaly skin
pain, swelling, tenderness, warmth on the skin
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or tongue or inside the mouth
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach tenderness
difficulty with swallowing
dizziness
fast heartbeat
hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
redness of the skin
severe abdominal or stomach cramps and pain
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
watery and severe diarrhea, which may also be bloody
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Mupirocin
Pros
Can use for children as young as 2 months old (ointment) or 3 months old (cream)
Can easily apply directly where the skin infection is
Generally well-tolerated; few people experience side effects
Available as a lower-cost generic
Cons
Only available by prescription
Need to remember to use three times a day
Ointment might not be a good option for people with kidney problems because of risk of harm
Pharmacist tips for Mupirocin
Make sure to use mupirocin for as long as your healthcare professional (HCP) instructed you to. Don't stop using the medication earlier than prescribed even if your skin starts looking better. Your infection might not be entirely gone. It might come back and be harder to treat.
Wash your hands before and after you use mupirocin. Use a clean cotton swab or gauze pad to apply the medication onto the affected area of your skin. This helps prevent the infection from spreading or getting worse.
Use mupirocin only on small areas of the skin. Avoid getting the medication in your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina (mucosal surfaces). Otherwise, it might cause irritation. Rinse your eyes well with water if you accidentally get mupirocin in your eyes.
After you apply mupirocin, you can use a sterile (clean) gauze pad to cover and protect the area, unless your HCP instructed you otherwise.
You might feel some slight irritation where you applied mupirocin on your skin. Let your HCP know if any skin irritation becomes bothersome or if it doesn't go away.
Avoid using other lotions, creams, ointments, or other topical products at the same time as mupirocin on the same area of skin. We're not sure what effects there are when mupirocin and other topical products are on the affected area at the same time. It might be a good idea to wait until you've finished your treatment course with mupirocin to use any other topical products on the treated area of skin.
Don't use mupirocin ointment on skin that's at or near any tubing that's inserted into a vein. It's possible that the medication can make fungal infections that are hard to treat pop up there.
Let your HCP know if your skin infection doesn't improve within 3 to 5 days of using mupirocin or if your skin infection gets worse. Your HCP can check whether you need other treatment.
Frequently asked questions about Mupirocin
How to save using GoodRx
What are the risks and warnings for Mupirocin?
Mupirocin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reaction
In some rare cases, mupirocin can cause an allergic reaction, which can be severe or life-threatening. Stop using the medication and get medical help right away if you have rash, hives, swelling, trouble breathing, or other symptoms of anaphylaxis.
Diarrhea from Clostridioides difficile infection
Though rare, mupirocin carries a risk for diarrhea that's caused by a bacterial infection called Clostridioides difficile (C. diff). Like with all antibiotics, mupirocin can change how much normal bacteria is in your gut, allow C. diff to overgrow there, and cause an infection once the medication gets absorbed into the body. But keep in mind that mupirocin is used on the skin, so very little medication typically gets absorbed.
The risk that mupirocin gets absorbed into the body and causes C. diff infection is higher if the medication is applied onto damaged skin. This infection can be very contagious, cause diarrhea, and lead to life-threatening dehydration. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like rapid heart rate, fever, foul-smelling diarrhea, or frequent bowel movements.
Development of hard-to-treat infections
Risk factors: Long-term use of mupirocin
Using mupirocin for long periods of time can give rise to the growth of treatment-resistant bacteria or fungi. This means that the medication won't work well to kill the bacteria or fungi, and new infections can be very difficult to treat. To prevent this from happening, be sure to use mupirocin as directed and not for a longer period of time than your HCP prescribed.
Caution use in people with kidney problems (ointment only)
Mupirocin ointment contains an inactive ingredient that can be toxic when a large amount is absorbed into the body through damaged skin. The kidneys normally help get rid of this inactive ingredient from the body.
The risk for possible harmful effects from the inactive ingredient is higher if you have moderate-to-severe kidney problems. When your kidneys don't work properly, your body can't get rid of the inactive ingredient well. This raises the risk for the inactive ingredient to build up in the body and cause harm. Tell your HCP before you use mupirocin ointment if you have kidney problems to make sure it's safe for you.
Mupirocin dosage forms
Typical dosing for Mupirocin
Mupirocin Reviews
GoodRx has partnered with PatientsLikeMe to provide reviews on the different aspects of Mupirocin.
Effectiveness
Learn more about the effectiveness of Mupirocin based on real life experiences.
Overall Rating
Based on 6 people taking this medication
3.3
Effectiveness by condition:
impetigo3 reviews
3.8
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus3 reviews
2.9
Severity of side effects
Based on 31 people taking this medication
0%
50%
100%
Top side effects
Irritability
4%
Reasons people stopped taking Mupirocin
Based on 41 people who have taken this medication
Course of treatment ended
64%
Doctor's advice
13%
Other
10%
Did not seem to work
5%
Change in health plan coverage
3%
Expense
3%
Personal research
3%
Side effects too severe
3%
How long people take Mupirocin
Based on 33 people taking this medication
0%
50%
100%
Interactions between Mupirocin and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
How much does Mupirocin cost?
What are alternatives to Mupirocin?
Impetigo - ointment
Bacterial skin infection that happens after skin gets damaged (e.g., from a cut or other wound) - cream
Impetigo in people ages 9 months and older
What is the latest news about Mupirocin?
Mupirocin images
Get savings updates for Mupirocin
Receive price alerts, news, and other messages from GoodRx about Mupirocin and other healthcare topics and relevant savings offers.By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
References
Best studies we foundAlembic Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Mupirocin cream [package insert]. DailyMed.
Ference, J.D., et al. (2009). Choosing topical corticosteroids. American Family Physician.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Inc., USA. (2023) Mupirocin ointment [package insert]. DailyMed.
Tan, C. B., et al. (2012). Toxic megacolon from fulminant Clostridium difficile infection induced by topical silver sulphadiazine. BMJ Case Reports.
Taylor, T. A., et al. (2023). Staphylococcus aureus. StatPearls.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Drugs@FDA: FDA-approved drugs.
Compare other Skin Infection drugs
Browse medications
View AllResearch prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.