What is mupirocin?
Mupirocinis an antibiotic for the treatment of skin infections, mainly caused by bacteria that cause a number of skin conditions in adults and children.
The active substance of this medicine ismupirocin itself. The presentation is in tube, with ointment containing20 mg of this active ingredientper gram of it. The administrationis topically, applied to the affected area two orthree times a day orat the discretion of the dermatologist.
Note: The application consists of placinga small amount of ointmenton the affected area, provided that itsextension is not very wide.
What is mupirocin for?
As we have mentioned, mupirocinbelongs to the group of antibiotic drugsfor the skin and is specifically indicated in the following cases:
1. Skin infections and diseases
Mupirocin is indicated to treat skin infections such as impetigo, folliculitis , eczema and minor or secondary infections such as atopic dermatitis , eczematous dermatitis, contact dermatitis, very common in children and babies. (1)
It is important to note that impetigo is a skin infection that is characterized by the appearance of red sores on the face, specifically around the nose, mouth, hands, and feet. (two)
For the treatment, the application area must be cleaned and dried, and the ointment spread in a small layer in the area to be treated, for an estimated time between 5 to 10 days.
You should know: Scientific studies highlight the effectiveness of mupirocin for the prevention of nosocomial skin infections. (3)
2. Treatment of staphylococcus bacteria
We have already discussed that mupirocin treats infections caused by bacteria, mainly Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.
In this sense, the mechanism of action of mupirocin is that it inhibits the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the synthesis of proteins of these bacteria , preventing their reproduction. (4)
Mupirocin Side Effects
The use of this medication may cause some adverse reactions , including the following:
- Allergic reactions, if you are sensitive to any component of mupirocin.
- Severe itching, rash, or other irritation may occur on the skin.
- Unusual skin blistering or peeling may also appear.
- Unusually severe stomach pain, diarrhoea.
Important: If you notice any of these symptoms, stop using this medicine and see your doctor.
Mupirocin Contraindications
The use of this medication is contraindicated in the following cases :
- If you are allergic to any of the ingredients of this medicine.
- It should not be used on patients with burns or damaged skin.
- If you suffer from moderate or severe renal insufficiency, since it contains polyethylene glycol.
- In infections caused by fungi and viruses.
Important: The simultaneous use of this drug with other drugs applied to the skin is not recommended, since there are no studies on the interaction of mupirocin with other drugs.
Key Findings
- Mupirocin is a medication belonging to the group of cutaneous antibiotics.
- Mupirocin is indicated to Treat infections caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes .
- The administration of this medicine is by topical route and in small affected areas.
- Before using this ointment, you should request evaluation of the injury by a specialist doctor.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.