What Does Mupirocin Ointment Treat?

Mupirocin ointment is a topical antibiotic. It is often used to treat a skin infection called impetigo; in addition it's used to treat and prevent Staphylococcus aureus, better known as staph. Staph is the bacteria that causes MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), a common and serious problem occurring in several hospitals.

Prevention

• Health care workers who are likely to be exposed to staph on a regular basis may use Mupriocin nasally to avoid colonizing (carrying) the infection. This shouldn't be used long term, due to the risk of creating Mupirocin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

How to Use

• Mipirocin is used three times daily and applied directly to the skin wound or into the nose.

Time Frame

• You should use Mupirocin ointment for the duration of time suggested by your doctor in order to completely eliminate the infection.

Side Effects

• Side effects of using Mupirocin include burning and stinging upon application. Some people are allergic to the medicine and will develop an itchy rash and might have difficulty breathing. Report any severe or unexpected side effects to your doctor as soon as possible.

Expert Insight

• A study conducted by University Hospital in Rotterdam verified that Mupirocin ointment does reduce staph colonized in the nose, but also revealed that using the medicine made participants more likely to contract a different strain of staph than the original for which they were treated. The doctors recommend using Mupirocin only in people verified to be culturing staph in their nasal passages.