Patient leaflet - MUPIROCIN 2% W/W OINTMENT,BACTROBAN 2% W/W OINTMENT
Bactroban® 2% w/w ointment
(mupirocin calcium)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
The name of your medicine is Bactroban 2% w/w ointment but will be referred to as Bactroban throughout this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
-
1 What Bactroban is and what it is used for
-
2 What you need to know before you use Bactroban
-
3 How to use Bactroban
-
4 Possible side effects
-
5 How to store Bactroban
-
6 Contents of the pack and other information
1 What Bactroban is and what it is used for
Bactroban contains the active substance called mupirocin. Bactroban is an antibiotic ointment. It is used:
- to treat skin infections on the skin such as
-
– infected hair follicles which form pimples containing pus (“folliculitis”),
-
– an infectious skin infection with blistering and crusting known as “impetigo” or
-
– recurring boils (“furunculosis”)
- to kill various bacteria which cause other skin infections including Staphylococci, Streptococci and E. coli. This group includes MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
- This ointment is for external use on your skin only.
2 What you need to know before you use Bactroban
Do not use Bactroban:
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to mupirocin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Do not use if the above applies to you. If you are not sure do not use this medicine. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before using Bactroban.
Warnings and precautions
- Bactroban can cause severe skin reactions or allergies. See Conditions to look out for’ in Section 4
- Bactroban is not suitable for use in your eyes, nose or around intravenous cannula („drip’) sites.
Thrush (a yeast infection) may develop if Bactroban is used for a long time. If this occurs, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Keep the ointment away from your eyes.
-
– If the ointment gets into your eyes accidentally, wash them thoroughly with water.
Other medicines and Bactroban
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
If a cracked nipple is being treated, the ointment must be thoroughly washed off prior to breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
It is unlikely that Bactroban will affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Bactroban contains polyethylene glycol
Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you:
-
– have kidney problems
-
– have large areas of open wounds or damaged skin to be treated
3 How to use Bactroban
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Using this medicine
Do not mix Bactroban with any other external cream or ointment medicines on the infected area of your skin as this may reduce the effectiveness of Bactroban.
You usually apply Bactroban on your skin two to three times a day.
-
1. Wash and dry your hands.
-
2. Apply ointment to the infected area of your skin.
-
3. You can cover the treated area with a plaster(s) or suitable dressing(s), unless your doctor has told you to leave it uncovered.
-
4. Replace the cap on the tube and wash your hands.
How long should you use Bactroban for?
Use Bactroban for as long as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. The bacteria are normally cleared from your skin within 10 days of starting treatment. Do not use for more than 10 days. Throw away any ointment that is left over.
If you swallow any Bactroban
If you swallow any of the ointment, speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
If you forget to use Bactroban
- If you forget to apply Bactroban, apply it as soon as you remember.
- If your next dose is due within an hour, skip the missed dose.
- Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop using Bactroban
If you stop using Bactroban too early, not all the bacteria may have been killed or they may continue to grow. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist when to stop using the ointment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Conditions to look out for
Severe skin reactions or allergies:
These are very rare in people using Bactroban.
Signs include:
- raised and itchy rash
- swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, causing difficulty in breathing
- collapse or loss of consciousness.
^ Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms. Stop using Bactroban
-
– If you develop a severe skin reaction or an allergy:
- wash off the ointment
- stop using it and
- tell your doctor as soon as possible.
On rare occasions, medicines like Bactroban can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), causing diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever (pseudomembranous colitis).
-
- > Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you get any of these symptoms.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Burning where the ointment is applied.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Itching, redness, stinging and dryness on your skin in the place where Bactroban is applied.
- Allergic rash, itching, redness or soreness of the skin can also occur on other parts of your body.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Swollen face and/or difficulty breathing. This may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction that could require emergency treatment.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5 how to store bactroban
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not use the ointment after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and tube labels after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If the medicine becomes discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration, seek the advice of your pharmacist.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6 contents of the pack and other informationwhat bactroban containsthe active ingredient in the bactroban is 2% w/w mupirocin.
The other ingredients are polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 3350.
What Bactroban looks like and contents of the pack
Bactroban is an ointment in a white, translucent, water-soluble, polyethylene glycol base for topical administration, in an aluminium tube.Bactroban is available in 15g tubes.
Manufactured by: Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8DT, UK.
OR
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals S.A., ul. Grunwaldzka 189, 60–322 Poznan, Poland.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: B&S Healthcare, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK.
Bactroban® 2% w/w ointment; PL 18799/1411
Leaflet date: 22.11.2019 lPOM l
Bactroban is a registered trademark of the Glaxo Group Limited.
Blind or partially sighted?
Is this leaflet hard to see or read?
Call 0208 515 3763 to obtain the leaflet in a format suitable for you.
Package Leaflet: Information for the user Mupirocin 2% w/w ointment (mupirocin calcium)
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
The name of your medicine is Mupirocin 2% w/w ointment but will be referred to as Mupirocin throughout this leaflet.
What is in this leaflet
-
1 What Mupirocin is and what it is used for
-
2 What you need to know before you use Mupirocin
-
3 How to use Mupirocin
-
4 Possible side effects
-
5 How to store Mupirocin
-
6 Contents of the pack and other information
1 What Mupirocin is and what it is used for
Mupirocin contains the active substance called mupirocin. Mupirocin is an antibiotic ointment. It is used:
- to treat skin infections on the skin such as
-
– infected hair follicles which form pimples containing pus (“folliculitis”),
-
– an infectious skin infection with blistering and crusting known as “impetigo” or
-
– recurring boils (“furunculosis”)
- to kill various bacteria which cause other skin infections including Staphylococci, Streptococci and E. coli. This group includes MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
- This ointment is for external use on your skin only.
2 What you need to know before you use Mupirocin
Do not use Mupirocin:
- if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to mupirocin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Do not use if the above applies to you. If you are not sure do not use this medicine. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before using Mupirocin.
Warnings and precautions
- Mupirocin can cause severe skin reactions or allergies. See Conditions to look out for’ in Section 4
- Mupirocin is not suitable for use in your eyes, nose or around intravenous cannula („drip’) sites.
Thrush (a yeast infection) may develop if Mupirocin is used for a long time. If this occurs, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Keep the ointment away from your eyes.
-
– If the ointment gets into your eyes accidentally, wash them thoroughly with water.
Other medicines and Mupirocin
Tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using this medicine.
If a cracked nipple is being treated, the ointment must be thoroughly washed off prior to breast-feeding.
Driving and using machines
It is unlikely that Mupirocin will affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.
Mupirocin contains polyethylene glycol
Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you:
-
– have kidney problems
-
– have large areas of open wounds or damaged skin to be treated
3 How to use Mupirocin
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Using this medicine
Do not mix Mupirocin with any other external cream or ointment medicines on the infected area of your skin as this may reduce the effectiveness of Mupirocin.
You usually apply Mupirocin on your skin two to three times a day.
-
1. Wash and dry your hands.
-
2. Apply ointment to the infected area of your skin.
-
3. You can cover the treated area with a plaster(s) or suitable dressing(s), unless your doctor has told you to leave it uncovered.
-
4. Replace the cap on the tube and wash your hands.
How long should you use Mupirocin for?
Use Mupirocin for as long as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. The bacteria are normally cleared from your skin within 10 days of starting treatment. Do not use for more than 10 days. Throw away any ointment that is left over.
If you swallow any Mupirocin
If you swallow any of the ointment, speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist for advice.
If you forget to use Mupirocin
- If you forget to apply Mupirocin, apply it as soon as you remember.
- If your next dose is due within an hour, skip the missed dose.
- Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop using Mupirocin
If you stop using Mupirocin too early, not all the bacteria may have been killed or they may continue to grow. Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist when to stop using the ointment.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
4 Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Conditions to look out for
Severe skin reactions or allergies:
These are very rare in people using Mupirocin.
Signs include:
- raised and itchy rash
- swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, causing difficulty in breathing
- collapse or loss of consciousness.
^ Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms. Stop using Mupirocin
-
– If you develop a severe skin reaction or an allergy:
- wash off the ointment
- stop using it and
- tell your doctor as soon as possible.
On rare occasions, medicines like Mupirocin can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), causing diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever (pseudomembranous colitis).
-
- > Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you get any of these symptoms.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Burning where the ointment is applied.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Itching, redness, stinging and dryness on your skin in the place where Mupirocin is applied.
- Allergic rash, itching, redness or soreness of the skin can also occur on other parts of your body.
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- Swollen face and/or difficulty breathing. This may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction that could require emergency treatment.
5 how to store mupirocin
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 25°C.
Do not use the ointment after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and tube labels after ‘EXP’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If the medicine becomes discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration, seek the advice of your pharmacist.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6 contents of the pack and other informationwhat mupirocin containsthe active ingredient in the mupirocin is 2% w/w mupirocin.
The other ingredients are polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 3350.
What Mupirocin looks like and contents of the pack
Mupirocin is an ointment in a white, translucent, water-soluble, polyethylene glycol base for topical administration, in an aluminium tube.Mupirocin is available in 15g tubes.
Manufactured by: Glaxo Wellcome Operations, Harmire Road, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8DT, UK.
OR
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals S.A., ul. Grunwaldzka 189, 60–322 Poznan, Poland.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: B&S Healthcare, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU UK.
Mupirocin 2% w/w ointment; PL 18799/1411
Leaflet date: 22.11.2019 [pqm]
Blind or partially sighted?
Is this leaflet hard to see or read?
Call 0208 515 3763 to obtain the leaflet in a format suitable for you.