Bactroban is mupirocin 2%, a topical antibiotic. It treats impetigo, infected cuts and small skin infections, and — in its nasal form — clears staphylococcal bacteria carried in the nostrils before surgery. It is a targeted, short-course antibiotic, not a general-purpose wound cream.
What is Bactroban?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists Bactroban as Schedule 2, available from a pharmacy without a prescription:
| Product | Form | Contains |
|---|---|---|
| Bactroban Topical | Ointment | Mupirocin 2% |
| Bactroban | Cream | Mupirocin 2% |
| Bactroban Nasal | Nasal ointment | Mupirocin 2% |
Mupirocin is unusual among antibiotics. It is derived from a Pseudomonas bacterium, and it works by blocking isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, an enzyme bacteria need to build proteins. Because that mechanism is not shared with any antibiotic given by mouth or injection, there is no cross-resistance — bacteria resistant to penicillins or macrolides remain susceptible to mupirocin.
That is precisely why mupirocin is protected. It is one of the few reliable treatments for MRSA carriage, and its usefulness depends on it not being used casually. Widespread and prolonged use drives mupirocin resistance, which is already documented in South Africa and internationally.
It is highly active against staphylococci, including MRSA, and against streptococci — exactly the organisms that cause skin infections.
The nasal ointment is a distinct product with its own purpose. It is not the same as putting the skin ointment in your nose, and the two should not be interchanged.
What is Bactroban commonly used for?
The skin ointment or cream:
- Impetigo — the crusted, golden-yellow school sore, and its main licensed use.
- Infected small cuts, grazes and wounds.
- Infected insect bites and small areas of infected eczema.
- Folliculitis and small boils.
- Secondary skin infection of an existing skin condition.
The nasal ointment:
- **Clearing Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA from the nostrils**, most often before orthopaedic or cardiac surgery, to reduce the risk of a wound infection.
- Decolonisation in people with recurrent boils or staphylococcal infections, where the nose is acting as the reservoir reseeding them.
- Preventing infection in dialysis patients and other high-risk groups.
What it is not for:
- Large or deep infections, spreading cellulitis, or anything with fever — those need oral antibiotics.
- Burns. This is a common search, and the answer is that a burn beyond a very minor one needs proper assessment, not an antibiotic ointment. Burns are managed by cooling, appropriate dressings and medical review, and infection in a burn is a serious matter.
- Fungal infections such as ringworm or athlete’s foot — mupirocin has no antifungal activity.
- Routine use on clean wounds. A clean cut needs washing under running water and covering, not an antibiotic.
Courses are short — usually five to ten days. Do not keep the tube for future use, and do not apply it to every scrape. That habit is exactly what erodes the medicine’s usefulness.
How Bactroban fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Topical antibiotics | Mupirocin (Bactroban), fusidic acid | Localised bacterial skin infection, short courses |
| Nasal decolonisation | Bactroban Nasal, neomycin/chlorhexidine | Clearing staphylococcus from the nostrils |
| Antibiotic + steroid | Fusidic acid with hydrocortisone | Skin both inflamed and infected |
| Antiseptics | Chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine | Reducing bacteria on skin generally |
| Antifungals | Clotrimazole (Canex V) | Fungal infection — mupirocin does nothing here |
| Topical steroids | Betamethasone (Clomaderm) | Inflammation, not infection |
| Oral antibiotics | Flucloxacillin, cloxacillin | Spreading or systemic infection |
See the skin and wound care hub.
What to check before using Bactroban
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if:
- The infection covers a large area, is spreading, or comes with fever — those need oral antibiotics.
- You have kidney disease and need it on large or broken areas. The ointment base (polyethylene glycol) can be absorbed through damaged skin and is cleared by the kidneys — which is why the cream is generally preferred for larger or broken areas.
- You are treating near the eyes — it is not an eye preparation and causes significant irritation.
- You have had a reaction to mupirocin before.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding. If used near the breast, wash it off before feeding.
- You are treating a child — it is used in children, but follow advice.
Using it:
- Apply a small amount to the affected area up to three times daily, as directed.
- Wash your hands before and after.
- Cover with a dressing if advised, though impetigo is often left open to dry.
- Use it for the prescribed period, usually five to ten days, and stop.
- Do not share the tube, and do not keep leftovers for a future scrape.
- For nasal use, apply a small amount inside each nostril and press the sides of the nose together to spread it — using the nasal product, not the skin one.
- Keep impetigo covered and keep children off school until crusts have dried or 48 hours of treatment have passed, to limit spread.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Side effects are usually mild and local — stinging, burning, itching or dryness where applied. The nasal ointment can cause a brief stinging sensation.
Stop and seek advice if the treated skin becomes more inflamed, red or itchy, which may indicate a reaction to the ointment rather than a worsening infection.
Get emergency help for:
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
- Rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, fever, or feeling generally unwell — infection spreading beyond the skin needs urgent oral or intravenous antibiotics.
- Severe, watery or bloody diarrhoea, which is rare with topical use but has been reported.
Contact your doctor if:
- The infection is not improving after three to five days, or is worsening.
- Red streaks spread from the area, or nearby glands become tender.
- Infections keep recurring — that may point to nasal staphylococcal carriage, or to an underlying condition such as diabetes.
- The wound is deep, dirty, from a bite, or contains debris — those need proper assessment, and possibly a tetanus check.
- You have a burn that is more than very superficial, is blistering, or covers a significant area.
- A rash looks fungal — a spreading ring with a clearer centre — since mupirocin will not treat it.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Bactroban ointment used for? Bacterial skin infections — impetigo, infected cuts and grazes, infected bites and folliculitis. It contains mupirocin 2%.
Is Bactroban used for burns? No. A burn beyond a very minor one needs proper assessment, cooling and appropriate dressings — not an antibiotic ointment. Infection in a burn is a serious matter.
Can I use it on ringworm? No. Mupirocin is an antibiotic with no antifungal activity. Ringworm needs an antifungal such as clotrimazole.
What is Bactroban Nasal for? Clearing staphylococcus, including MRSA, from the nostrils — usually before surgery, or where the nose is reseeding recurrent boils. It is a different product from the skin ointment.
Do I need a prescription? No. It is Schedule 2 in South Africa, available from a pharmacy.
How long should I use it? Usually five to ten days. Do not keep the tube for future use — casual use drives mupirocin resistance.
Can I put it on every cut? No. Clean cuts need washing and covering, not an antibiotic. Reserve it for infections.
Why is it kept in reserve? Because it works on MRSA and has no cross-resistance with oral antibiotics, which makes it valuable — and that value depends on not overusing it.