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Mupirocin

Medication topical antibiotic skin
Aka: Bactroban
Brands seen in Singapore: Bactroban Nasal, Mupirax, Supirocin, Mupider, Muprin
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
Medlineplus: impetigo and other bacterial skin infections
When to take
Medlineplus: usually three times a day for 1 to 2 weeks
Take with
Topical only · US label: not alongside other creams
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Medlineplus: an antibiotic used for impetigo
  • SG label: nasal carriage usually clears in 3 to 5 days
  • US label: 2% ointment, 3 times daily for up to 10 days
Cons
  • Medlineplus: burning, stinging, itching or rash
  • US label: skin ointment not for eyes, nose or mucosa
  • Medlineplus: no use against fungal or viral infections
Sources
  1. HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset, 5,511 rows, cached in full and filtered locally) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “All 6 registered mupirocin products read 'Prescription Only' and all are 2% w/w ointments — BACTROBAN NASAL OINTMENT · MUPIRAX · SUPIROCIN · Mupider · Muprin · EPIROZIN”
  2. National Drug Formulary (SG, MOH) — BACTROBAN NASAL OINTMENT 2% W/W [SIN05075P], approved indication and dosing · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “applied to the anterior nostrils 2 to 3 times a day … Nasal carriage should normally clear within 3 to 5 days … Dosage should not exceed 10 days. Do not mix with other preparations … risk of dilution”
  3. MedlinePlus (NIH/AHFS) — Mupirocin topical · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Mupirocin, an antibiotic, is used to treat impetigo as well as other skin infections caused by bacteria. It is not effective against fungal or viral infections … usually is applied three times a day for 1 to 2 weeks”
  4. US FDA label — mupirocin ointment USP 2%, section 2 Dosage and Administration, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Apply a small amount of mupirocin ointment … 3 times daily for up to 10 days … Re-evaluate patients not showing a clinical response within 3 to 5 days … not for intranasal, ophthalmic, or other mucosal use”
  5. US FDA label — mupirocin ointment USP 2%, section 1 Indications and Usage, via openFDA · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “indicated for the topical treatment of impetigo due to susceptible isolates of Staphylococcus aureus … and Streptococcus pyogenes”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.