Banogon is mupirocin 2% ointment, a topical antibiotic for bacterial skin infections — impetigo, infected cuts, grazes and bites. It is not a treatment for ringworm, which is a fungal infection and needs a different medicine entirely.
What is Banogon?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists Banogon as a Schedule 2 ointment containing mupirocin 2% — available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
Mupirocin is an unusual antibiotic. It blocks isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase, an enzyme bacteria need to build proteins. No antibiotic taken by mouth works this way, which means there is no cross-resistance — bacteria that resist penicillins or macrolides are still killed by mupirocin.
That makes it one of the few reliable topical treatments for MRSA, and it is the reason mupirocin is deliberately protected. Its usefulness depends on it not being used casually, and mupirocin resistance is already documented in South Africa where use has been heavy.
It is highly active against staphylococci, including MRSA, and streptococci — precisely the organisms that infect skin.
Mupirocin is sold here under several names, including Bactroban. Being given one instead of another is ordinary substitution.
What is Banogon commonly used for?
- Impetigo — the crusted, golden-yellow “school sore”, most common in children. This is its main use.
- Infected cuts, grazes and small wounds.
- Infected insect bites.
- Small areas of infected eczema.
- Folliculitis — infected hair follicles — and small boils.
- Secondary bacterial infection of an existing skin condition.
It does not treat ringworm, and this is worth addressing directly because it is a common search.
Ringworm is a fungal infection, not a worm and not bacterial. It appears as a round or oval patch that is scaly, itchy, spreads outwards with a raised defined edge, and often clears in the centre — producing the ring that gives it its name.
Mupirocin has no antifungal activity whatsoever. Applying it to ringworm will do nothing at all, and the delay lets the fungus spread. Ringworm needs an antifungal such as clotrimazole, miconazole or terbinafine, applied for two to four weeks and continued for a week or two after the skin looks normal.
Telling them apart:
| Feature | Bacterial (impetigo) | Fungal (ringworm) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Golden-yellow crusts, weeping, blisters | Dry scaly ring, raised edge, clearer centre |
| Spread | Spreads by contact, appears in clusters | Expands outwards from one point |
| Sensation | Sore, sometimes itchy | Usually itchy |
| Treatment | Antibiotic — mupirocin | Antifungal — clotrimazole, terbinafine |
If you are unsure, a pharmacist can usually tell at a glance, and that thirty seconds saves weeks of treating the wrong thing.
It is also not for large or spreading infections, anything with fever, burns beyond the most trivial, or routine use on clean wounds — a clean cut needs washing and covering, not an antibiotic.
How Banogon fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Treats |
|---|---|---|
| Topical antibiotics | Mupirocin (Banogon, Bactroban), fusidic acid | Localised bacterial skin infection |
| Antifungals | Clotrimazole (Canex V), terbinafine | Ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush |
| Antibiotic + steroid | Fusidic acid with hydrocortisone | Skin both inflamed and infected |
| Topical steroids | Betamethasone (Clomaderm) | Inflammation — worsens untreated infection |
| Antiseptics | Chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine | Reducing bacteria generally |
| Oral antibiotics | Flucloxacillin, cloxacillin | Spreading or systemic infection |
See the skin and wound care hub.
What to check before using Banogon
Be reasonably confident the infection is bacterial. That single check prevents most wasted treatment.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if:
- The infection covers a large area, is spreading, or comes with fever.
- You have kidney disease and need it on large or broken areas — the ointment base can be absorbed through damaged skin and is cleared by the kidneys.
- You are treating near the eyes, where it causes significant irritation and is not suitable.
- You have had a reaction to mupirocin before.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You are treating a child, which is common with impetigo but worth advice.
Using it:
- Apply a small amount up to three times daily, as directed.
- Wash your hands before and after — impetigo is highly contagious.
- Use it for the prescribed period, usually five to ten days, then stop.
- Do not share the tube, and do not keep leftovers for future scrapes.
- For impetigo: keep the area covered where practical, use separate towels and flannels, wash bedding and clothing, and keep children off school until the crusts have dried or 48 hours of treatment have passed.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Side effects are usually mild and local — stinging, burning, itching or dryness where applied.
Stop and seek advice if the treated skin becomes more inflamed, red or itchy — a reaction to the ointment can look like the infection worsening.
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.
Contact your doctor if:
- There is no improvement after three to five days, or the rash is worse.
- Red streaks spread from the area, or nearby glands become tender.
- The rash is spreading outwards in a ring — that is fungal, and needs an antifungal instead.
- Infections keep recurring — that may point to nasal staphylococcal carriage or an underlying condition such as diabetes.
- The wound is deep, dirty, from a bite, or contains debris.
- Impetigo keeps returning in a household, where everyone may need treating and hygiene measures reinforcing.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Banogon ointment used for? Bacterial skin infections — impetigo, infected cuts and grazes, infected bites, folliculitis and small boils. It contains mupirocin 2%.
Is Banogon ointment used for ringworm? No. Ringworm is fungal and mupirocin is an antibiotic with no antifungal activity. It will not help at all. Ringworm needs an antifungal such as clotrimazole or terbinafine.
How do I tell ringworm from a bacterial infection? Ringworm is a dry, scaly, itchy patch with a raised edge that spreads outwards and often clears in the centre. Impetigo is weeping with golden-yellow crusts. A pharmacist can usually tell at a glance.
Do I need a prescription? No. It is Schedule 2 and available from a pharmacy.
How long do I use it? Usually five to ten days. Do not keep the tube for future use — casual use drives resistance to a medicine that is genuinely valuable.
Can I put it on any cut? No. Clean cuts need washing under running water and covering. Reserve antibiotics for infections.
Is impetigo contagious? Very. Wash hands, use separate towels, wash bedding, and keep children off school until crusts dry or 48 hours of treatment have passed.
Can I use it on a burn? No. Burns beyond the most trivial need proper assessment and appropriate dressings.