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Professional /
Infectious Diseases /
Bacteria and Antibacterial Drugs /
... /
Mupirocin /

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

Bacteria and Antibacterial Drugs
Overview of Bacteria
Overview of Antibacterial Drugs
Aminoglycosides
Beta-Lactams
Carbapenems
Cephalosporins
Chloramphenicol
Clindamycin
Daptomycin
Fluoroquinolones
Fosfomycin
Lefamulin
Lincosamides, Oxazolidinones, and Streptogramins
Linezolid and Tedizolid
Lipoglycopeptides
Macrolides
Metronidazole and Tinidazole
Monobactams
Mupirocin
Nitrofurantoin
Quinupristin and Dalfopristin
Penicillins
Polypeptide Antibiotics: Bacitracin, Colistin, Polymyxin B
Rifamycins
Spectinomycin
Sulfonamides
Tetracyclines
Tigecycline
Trimethoprim and Sulfamethoxazole
Vancomycin

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Mupirocin

By

Brian J. Werth

, PharmD,

  • Assistant Professor of Pharmacy
  • University of Washington School of Pharmacy

Last full review/revision May 2020| Content last modified May 2020
Click here for Patient Education

Mupirocin inhibits bacterial RNA and protein synthesis. It is available only as a 2% topical preparation, which is bactericidal against staphylococci and beta-hemolytic streptococci. Systemic absorption of topical mupirocin is negligible.

Mupirocin is used for

  • Impetigo

  • Minor superficial secondarily infected skin lesions

  • Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage, although relapse rates may be high

Chronic therapy leads to mupirocin-resistant staphylococci.

Mupirocin is nontoxic but, when applied to denuded skin or mucous membranes, may cause itching and burning.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Mupirocin
 BACTROBAN
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: Click here for the Consumer Version
© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA)
Monobactams
Nitrofurantoin
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