Mupirocin is an antibiotic that prevents bacteria from growing on your skin.

Mupirocin topical (for use on the skin) is used to treat skin infections such as impetigo (IM-pe-TYE-go) or a "Staph" infection of the skin.

Mupirocin topical may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Do not take by mouth. Topical medicine is for use only on the skin. If this medicine gets in your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with water.

Wash your hands before and after applying mupirocin topical.

Clean and dry the affected skin area. Use a cotton swab or gauze pad to apply a small amount of mupirocin topical as directed.

Do not spread mupirocin topical over large areas of skin.

Mupirocin topical is usually applied 3 times per day for 10 days. Use only a small amount of the medicine.

Use a sterile gauze pad to cover the treated skin. Do not cover treated areas with a bandage, plastic wrap, or other covering that does not allow air to circulate.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve within 3 to 5 days, or if your skin condition gets worse.

Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also increase your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep the medicine tube tightly closed when not in use.

Usual Adult Dose for Secondary Cutaneous Bacterial Infections:

Topical cream: Apply a small amount to the affected area 3 times a day for 10 days.

Use: For the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm2 in area) due to susceptible strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes

Usual Adult Dose for Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus:

Nasal ointment: Apply about one-half of the tube contents into 1 nostril and the other half into the other nostril twice a day (morning and evening).
Duration of therapy: 5 days

Use: For the eradication of nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) in patients and healthcare workers as part of a comprehensive infection control program to reduce risk of MRSA infection among high-risk patients during institutional outbreaks of MRSA infections

Usual Adult Dose for Impetigo:

Topical ointment: Apply a small amount to the affected area 3 times a day.

Use: For the topical treatment of impetigo due to S aureus and S pyogenes

Usual Pediatric Dose for Secondary Cutaneous Bacterial Infections:

3 months or older:
Topical cream: Apply a small amount to the affected area 3 times a day for 10 days.

Use: For the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm2 in area) due to susceptible strains of S aureus and S pyogenes

Usual Pediatric Dose for Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus:

12 years or older:
Nasal ointment: Apply about one-half of the tube contents into 1 nostril and the other half into the other nostril twice a day (morning and evening).
Duration of therapy: 5 days

Use: For the eradication of nasal colonization with MRSA in patients and healthcare workers as part of a comprehensive infection control program to reduce risk of MRSA infection among high-risk patients during institutional outbreaks of MRSA infections

Usual Pediatric Dose for Impetigo:

2 months or older:
Topical ointment: Apply a small amount to the affected area 3 times a day.

Use: For the topical treatment of impetigo due to S aureus and S pyogenes

You should not use mupirocin topical if you are allergic to mupirocin.

To make sure mupirocin topical is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease.

Do not use mupirocin topical on a child without medical advice. The cream should not be used on a child younger than 3 months old. The ointment may be used on a child as young as 2 months old.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether mupirocin topical passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. If you apply this medicine to your breast or nipple, wash the areas thoroughly before nursing your baby.

Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

An overdose of mupirocin topical is not expected to be dangerous. Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 if anyone has accidentally swallowed the medication.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Avoid getting mupirocin topical in your eyes, mouth, or nose. A separate product called mupirocin nasal is made for use in the nose. Mupirocin topical is for use only on the skin.

Avoid using other medications on the areas you treat with mupirocin topical unless your doctor tells you to.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; dizziness, fast or pounding heartbeats; wheezing, difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

mupirocin topical may cause serious side effects. Stop using mupirocin topical and call your doctor at once if you have:

• severe stomach pain, diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

• severe itching, rash, or other irritation of treated skin;

• unusual skin blistering or peeling; or

• any signs of a new skin infection.

Common side effects of mupirocin topical may include:

• burning, stinging;

• itching; or

• pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.