{"id":636890,"date":"2026-07-09T14:59:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T18:59:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=636890"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:00:19","slug":"mupirocin-cream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/mupirocin-cream\/","title":{"rendered":"Mupirocin cream: Uses, how to apply, side effects, and OTC alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have a bacterial skin infection, your healthcare provider may recommend topical treatments available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription. One prescription option is<\/span> mupirocin, a topical antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial skin infections. Mupirocin comes in <\/span>cream<\/span><\/a> or<\/span> ointment<\/span><\/a> form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is mupirocin cream?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mupirocin<\/span><\/a> cream is a prescription <\/span>topical antibiotic<\/span><\/a> used to treat certain bacterial skin infections. It usually comes in a 2% strength and is applied directly to the skin. Brand-name <\/span>Bactroban cream has been discontinued<\/span><\/a>, but generic mupirocin cream is still available at pharmacies. Mupirocin is also available as an ointment, including the discontinued brand Centany. The cream is mainly used for certain infected skin injuries, while the ointment is commonly used for impetigo. Mupirocin cream is prescription-only and is not available over the counter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\tMupirocin 2% ointment (22 gm)\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t23666 - Hampton, VA\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Kroger\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$6.99\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Harris\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t$6.99\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\ti<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tPrice with signup<\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tGet free coupon<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tSee Mupirocin prices at all pharmacies<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n

What is mupirocin cream used for?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Mupirocin cream is approved<\/span><\/a> by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat <\/span>secondarily infected traumatic skin lesions<\/span><\/a>, such as small cuts, scrapes, and sores, caused by susceptible strains of <\/span>Staphylococcus aureus<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>Streptococcus pyogenes,<\/span><\/i> two common types of skin bacteria. Mupirocin ointment, not cream, is FDA approved to treat<\/span> impetigo<\/span><\/a> caused by these same bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare providers may choose between mupirocin cream and ointment depending on the infection and the affected area.<\/span> Elizabeth Rubin, MD<\/span><\/a>, says, \u201cThe ointment is generally more occlusive. Consequently, it tends to be used preferentially for lesions that are dry or crusty. Conversely, the cream is easier to spread, making it preferable for application to larger or more wet areas of skin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Other mupirocin uses\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Clinically, <\/span>mupirocin is commonly used<\/span><\/a> in the treatment of methicillin-resistant <\/span>Staphylococcus aureus<\/span><\/i> (<\/span>MRSA<\/span><\/a>), particularly in cases of impetigo. Treatment with mupirocin can control symptoms in more than 85% of impetigo cases, including some involving MRSA.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mupirocin ointment may also be used<\/span> off-label<\/span><\/a> for nasal MRSA decolonization, but mupirocin cream should not be used inside the nose. Mupirocin has also been studied for other off-label uses, such as infections associated with ear tubes. However, mupirocin is not appropriate for every skin infection, so a healthcare provider should evaluate the condition and prescribe the right treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you use mupirocin cream?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Use mupirocin cream exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. According to the drug label, you should:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Wash your hands before applying the cream.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Use a clean cotton swab or gauze pad to apply a small amount to the affected skin.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Apply mupirocin cream three times a day for 10 days, unless your healthcare provider gives you different instructions.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Cover the treated area with clean gauze if needed, unless your provider tells you to leave it uncovered.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Wash your hands after applying mupirocin cream.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Apply mupirocin cream only to the affected area of skin. It is not for internal use, and you should avoid getting it in your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Mike Daniels, DPM, president and chief medical officer at <\/span>WeTreatFeet<\/span><\/a> Podiatry in Baltimore, Maryland, says, \u201cPatients always need to wash their hands before and after applying it. I tell patients this repeatedly because they forget.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Dr. Rubin says overuse of mupirocin should be avoided, along with applying it to extensive areas of skin without a physician\u2019s recommendation, because both may increase the risk of irritation or contribute to resistant organisms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How much mupirocin cream should you apply?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Apply a small amount of mupirocin cream, about 0.5 grams or enough to cover the affected area in a thin layer. Depending on the size of the affected area, this may look like a pea- or fingertip-sized amount. Dr. Daniels says, \u201cMore is not better. I’ve had patients slather it on thinking it’ll work faster, and it doesn’t; you just waste the tube.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Apply mupirocin cream with a clean cotton swab or gauze pad, not your fingers. Avoid using other lotions, creams, or ointments on the area unless your healthcare provider says to.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How long should you use mupirocin cream?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Mupirocin cream is typically applied three times a day for 10 days. Complete the full 10-day course, even if your skin looks better sooner, because stopping early may make the infection harder to treat and contribute to <\/span>antibiotic resistance<\/span><\/a>. \u201cFinish the full course even if it looks better in a couple of days,\u201d Dr. Daniels says. \u201cStopping early is how resistance builds, and trust me, mupirocin-resistant staph is a real problem now.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t use mupirocin longer than prescribed. If your symptoms don\u2019t improve after three to five days or if they worsen at any point, contact your healthcare provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    What are the side effects of mupirocin cream?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Mupirocin cream may cause <\/span>side effects<\/span><\/a>, although not everyone experiences them. The most common side effects, although infrequent, can include:<\/span><\/p>\n