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Medication guide · Common after a work injury: Infection

Mupirocin: uses, appearance and warnings

What the official FDA label says Mupirocin is used for, what it looks like, and its most important warnings — in plain English, with the label text one click away.
RNA Synthetase Inhibitor AntibacterialPrescription label

Uses

What the official label says Mupirocin is used for

The FDA label for Mupirocin states:

Mupirocin Cream USP, 2% is indicated for the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm 2 in area) due to susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) . Mupirocin cream is an RNA synthetase inhibitor antibacterial indicated for the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm2 in area) due to susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes . ( 1 )
Read the label's “Indications and usage” section (verbatim)
Mupirocin Cream USP, 2% is indicated for the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm 2 in area) due to susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) . Mupirocin cream is an RNA synthetase inhibitor antibacterial indicated for the treatment of secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions (up to 10 cm in length or 100 cm2 in area) due to susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes . ( 1 )

Names & forms

Brand names, forms and strengths

Brand names (from RxNorm; not every brand is still sold): Bactroban, Centany, Muricin, Pirnuo.

Generic name: mupirocin · RxNorm ID (RxCUI): 42372

Forms and strengths of Mupirocin listed in RxNorm
FormStrengths listed in RxNorm
Nasal Ointment0.02 MG/MG
Topical Cream20 MG/ML
Topical Ointment0.02 MG/MG

Strengths are listed so you can recognise a product — not as dosing information. Only your prescriber can decide what is right for you.

Read the label's “Dosage forms and strengths” section (verbatim)
Mupirocin Cream USP, 2% is a white cream that contains 20 mg (2% w/w) of mupirocin per gram in an oil- and water-based emulsion, supplied in 15-gram and 30-gram tubes. Cream: 20 mg (2% w/w) of mupirocin per gram in 15-gram and 30-gram tubes. ( 3 )

Appearance

What Mupirocin looks like

Appearance of Mupirocin products from DailyMed product data
StrengthFormColourShapeSizeImprintScoreLabeler
mupirocin calcium 20 mg per gcreamwhite————Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc.

From the product data in each manufacturer's label on DailyMed. Many companies make Mupirocin, so your medicine may look different from any shown here. If a pill looks unfamiliar, ask your pharmacist before taking it.

Read the label's “How supplied” section (verbatim)
Mupirocin cream is a white cream that contains 20 mg (2% w/w) of mupirocin per gram in an oil- and water-based emulsion. Mupirocin Cream USP, 2% is supplied in 15-gram (NDC 51672-1370-1) and 30-gram (NDC 51672-1370-2) tubes. Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature]. Do not freeze.

Safety

Important warnings for Mupirocin

Severe Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, and generalized rash have been reported in patients treated with formulations of mupirocin, including mupirocin cream. ( 5.1 ) Eye Irritation: Avoid contact with eyes. ( 5.2 ) Local Irritation: Discontinue in the event of sensitization or severe local irritation. ( 5.3 ) Clostridium difficile- Associated Diarrhea (CDAD): If diarrhea occurs, evaluate patients for CDAD. …

Contraindications — who should not use it (verbatim)
Mupirocin cream is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to mupirocin or any of the excipients of mupirocin cream. Known hypersensitivity to mupirocin or any of the excipients of mupirocin cream. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions (verbatim excerpt)
Severe Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, and generalized rash have been reported in patients treated with formulations of mupirocin, including mupirocin cream. ( 5.1 ) Eye Irritation: Avoid contact with eyes. ( 5.2 ) Local Irritation: Discontinue in the event of sensitization or severe local irritation. ( 5.3 ) Clostridium difficile- Associated Diarrhea (CDAD): If diarrhea occurs, evaluate patients for CDAD. ( 5.4 ) Potential for Microbial Overgrowth: Prolonged use may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible microorganisms, including fungi. ( 5.5 ) Risk Associated with Mucosal Use: Mupirocin cream is not formulated for use on mucosal surfaces. A separate formulation, mupirocin nasal ointment, is available for intranasal use. ( 5.6 ) 5.1 Severe Allergic Reactions Systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, and generalized rash, have been reported in patients treated with formulations of mupirocin, including mupirocin cream [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) ] . 5.2 Eye Irritation Avoid contact with the eyes. In case of accidental contact, rinse well with water. 5.3 Local Irritation In the event of a sensitization or severe local irritation from mupirocin cream, usage should be discontinued, and appropriate alternative therapy for the infection instituted. 5.4 Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea Clostridium difficile- associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile . C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin-producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial drug use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over 2 months after the administration of antibacterial agents. If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile , and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated. 5.5 Potential for Microbial Overgrowth As with other antibacterial products, prolonged use of mupirocin cream may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible microorganisms, including fungi [see Dosage and Administration (2) ] . 5.6 Risk Associated with Mucosal Use Mupirocin cream is not formulated for use on mucosal surfaces. A separate formulation, mupirocin calcium nasal ointment, is available for intranasal use.
Side effects — opening of the label's adverse reactions section
The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in other sections of the labeling: Severe Allergic Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Eye Irritation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Local Irritation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] Clostridium difficile -Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] The most frequent adverse reactions (at least 1%) were headache, rash, and nausea. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc., at 1-866-923-4914 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared with rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. …

This is not a complete list of warnings or side effects. Read the full label and talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. To report a side effect to the FDA, use MedWatch.

Resources

If you were hurt at work

Whether a medicine is right for you is a decision for your prescriber. If you were injured on the job, these educational guides explain the next steps and who can help.

Sources

Label text is quoted from the Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. label (label version effective April 10, 2026), retrieved October 20, 2026. Other manufacturers' labels for the same medicine may differ in wording.

If anything here differs from the label that came with your medicine, follow your label and your pharmacist.

Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. This page does not tell you whether to take a medicine or how much to take. Medical emergency? Call 911. Poison emergency: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.