Mupirocin

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Sep 07, 2022

Warnings

Mupirocin Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Topical mupirocin can cause serious adverse effects in some people. Talk to your healthcare professionals about other options to treat a bacterial skin infection if you are at a high risk. Some of the risks of mupirocin use include:

ALLERGIC REACTIONS: Rarely, mupirocin topical ointment can cause a serious allergic reaction. Stop using the ointment and seek medical attention if you develop a skin rash, hives, burning, or itching in the application area, swelling, fever, or difficulty breathing.
LOCAL IRRITATION: Mupirocin topical ointment can cause a sensitization reaction and mild irritation at the application site. Call your doctor if the irritation is severe or does not go away. Do not apply mupirocin to damaged skin, such as burns, cuts, or scrapes.
EYE IRRITATION: Mupirocin topical ointment can cause irritation of the eyes. Avoid using this medicine near the eyes. If you accidentally get mupirocin in your eyes, rinse them well with water. If the burning or stinging does not go away in a few days, call your healthcare professional.
SEVERE DIARRHEA: Mupirocin, like all antibiotics, can cause mild diarrhea because it eliminates good bacteria in the gut. Rarely, this diarrhea can be caused by bacteria called Clostridium difficile (or C. diff), which is kept under control by healthy gut bacteria. C. diff diarrhea is highly contagious and can cause dehydration which can be life-threatening. Probiotic supplements can help prevent severe diarrhea while using antibiotics. The risk of severe diarrhea is higher with long-term use of antibiotics, use of multiple antibiotics, in older adults (age 65 years and above), in people with a weakened immune system, in people with recent hospital stays, and in those with a history of C. diff diarrhea.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: Long-term use of mupirocin topical ointment can lead to the development of new bacterial or fungal infections that are resistant to the medication. Always use mupirocin only as long as your doctor tells you.

Precautions Before Starting Mupirocin

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to mupirocin topical ointment, any of the active or inactive ingredients in mupirocin ointment, other preparations of antibiotics, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Mupirocin may not be right for people with certain medical conditions.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible drug interactions between mupirocin and your other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding. Based on clinical studies and reproduction studies in animals, there is no evidence of fetal harm when this drug is administered topically. However, there is no controlled data in human pregnancy. It is not known whether topical mupirocin ointment can enter into human milk. You should ensure that the infant’s skin does not come in contact with a treated area.

Precautions During Use of Mupirocin

Keep all your healthcare appointments while taking mupirocin. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while using this medicine.

Mupirocin Drug Interactions

Use of mupirocin with certain other medicines can affect how it works. Possible drug interactions between mupirocin and other medicines can also increase the risk of severe adverse events. Your doctor may change the dose of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are possible interactions between mupirocin and your other medicines.

Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies.

Specifically, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin).

Also, tell your healthcare provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription and over-the-counter medicines.

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