Bactroban

How to order Bactroban

1. Find the drug you need on our site.
2. Pick a clinic. See the price.
3. Fill in a short health form.
4. A doctor reads your form.
5. If it is safe for you, they say yes.
6. Your order ships fast to your door.
7. It comes in a plain, sealed box.

Why use us? We compare UK clinics. We show you the price and how fast they ship. We do not sell drugs. We just help you find the best one for you.

Is it safe? Yes. All our clinics are UK-based. A real doctor reads each form. They will not sell to you if it is not safe for you.

Bactroban on Prescriptsy

Bactroban is described on Prescriptsy as independent product information.

Here you can understand how online consultation works, what medical checks partner clinics carry out, and which factors matter when comparing providers.

We do not sell medicines directly, but help users compare licensed healthcare partners on price, delivery speed, service quality, and overall trustworthiness.

Bactroban contains mupirocin 2%, a topical antibacterial agent used for the treatment of superficial bacterial skin infections and for the eradication of nasal carriage of staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

It is available in two formulations in the United Kingdom: Bactroban ointment for application to the skin, and Bactroban nasal ointment for intranasal use.

Both are prescription-only medicines (POM).

Mupirocin has a unique mechanism of action among antibiotics, targeting bacterial isoleucyl-transfer RNA synthetase.

This mechanism is distinct from all other clinical antibiotic classes, which means that cross-resistance with other antibiotics is not typically seen.

Bactroban remains an important tool in the management of skin and soft tissue infections and in infection prevention strategies for MRSA.

This page provides a comprehensive clinical guide to Bactroban, covering its mechanism of action, indications, correct use, side effects, resistance concerns, and prescribing information for UK patients.

Important safety information about Bactroban

Before using Bactroban, note the following key safety points.

• Do not confuse Bactroban skin ointment with Bactroban nasal ointment. The two formulations have different bases and are not interchangeable.
• Do not apply skin ointment to the eyes or mucous membranes. If accidental eye contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water.
• The skin ointment base contains macrogol (polyethylene glycol), which can be absorbed through broken skin. In patients with extensive wounds, burns, or significant renal impairment, macrogol accumulation may cause nephrotoxicity. Alternative products should be used in these situations.
• Treatment courses should not exceed 10 days to minimise the development of mupirocin resistance.

What conditions does Bactroban treat

Impetigo

Impetigo is the most common bacterial skin infection in children, characterised by honey-coloured crusted lesions typically around the nose and mouth.

It is caused predominantly by Staphylococcus aureus and less commonly by Streptococcus pyogenes.

NICE recommends topical antibiotics, including mupirocin, as first-line treatment for localised non-bullous impetigo affecting a small area.

Bactroban applied three times daily for 5 to 7 days is an established treatment regimen.

For widespread impetigo or bullous impetigo, systemic antibiotics (such as flucloxacillin) are more appropriate.

Secondary infected dermatoses

Eczema, psoriasis, insect bites, minor wounds, and abrasions can become secondarily infected with bacteria, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus.

Signs of secondary bacterial infection include increased redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and purulent discharge from the affected area.

Bactroban can be applied to the infected area to treat the superimposed bacterial component while the underlying dermatosis is managed with appropriate therapy.

Folliculitis and minor wound infections

Superficial folliculitis (infection of hair follicles) presenting as small pustules can be treated effectively with topical mupirocin.

Similarly, minor traumatic wounds (cuts, grazes, surgical wound edges) that show signs of localised bacterial infection may respond to a short course of Bactroban, provided the infection is superficial and not spreading.

Deeper infections, cellulitis, or infections showing systemic signs (fever, malaise) require systemic antibiotics and should be assessed by a clinician.

MRSA nasal decolonisation

Bactroban nasal ointment is a key component of MRSA decolonisation protocols used in NHS hospitals and in the community.

The anterior nares (inside of the nostrils) are the primary reservoir for Staphylococcus aureus carriage, including MRSA. Approximately 30% of the general population carry S.

aureus in the nose, and 1 to 3% carry MRSA. Nasal carriage increases the risk of surgical site infections, bacteraemia, and transmission to vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.

Standard MRSA decolonisation involves applying Bactroban nasal ointment to the inside of each nostril two to three times daily for 5 days, combined with chlorhexidine 4% body washes or wipes for the same duration.

This protocol is recommended by NICE and Public Health England (now UK Health Security Agency) before elective surgery in MRSA carriers, during MRSA outbreaks in healthcare facilities, and for identified carriers in high-risk settings such as intensive care units and dialysis units.

How Bactroban works: mechanism of action

Mupirocin (formerly known as pseudomonic acid A) is produced by fermentation of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Its antibacterial mechanism is unique: mupirocin reversibly binds to and inhibits bacterial isoleucyl-transfer RNA synthetase (IleRS), the enzyme responsible for incorporating the amino acid isoleucine into bacterial proteins during translation.

By blocking this essential step, mupirocin halts bacterial protein synthesis, resulting in bacteriostatic activity at low concentrations and bactericidal activity at the higher concentrations achieved with topical application.

This mechanism is structurally and functionally distinct from those of all other clinical antibiotic classes, including beta-lactams, macrolides, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines.

As a result, there is no cross-resistance between mupirocin and these other drug classes.

A bacterium resistant to flucloxacillin or erythromycin, for example, may still be fully susceptible to mupirocin, which is why Bactroban is valuable for treating MRSA skin infections and for MRSA nasal decolonisation.

Mupirocin demonstrates potent activity against the gram-positive organisms most commonly responsible for skin infections: Staphylococcus aureus (including both methicillin-susceptible MSSA and methicillin-resistant MRSA strains), Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus), and other beta-haemolytic streptococci.

It has limited activity against most gram-negative organisms (with the exception of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and anaerobes, which restricts its clinical utility to gram-positive superficial infections.

Mupirocin resistance

Resistance to mupirocin is an important clinical concern.

Two levels of resistance are recognised: low-level resistance (MIC 8 to 256 mg/L), which is typically mediated by point mutations in the chromosomal IleRS gene, and high-level resistance (MIC greater than 512 mg/L), which is mediated by the plasmid-borne mupA gene encoding an alternative IleRS enzyme.

High-level resistance renders mupirocin clinically ineffective.

The prevalence of mupirocin resistance has increased in some healthcare settings, particularly where mupirocin has been used extensively or for prolonged courses.

To mitigate resistance development, treatment courses should be limited to 10 days for skin infections and 5 days for nasal decolonisation.

Repeated decolonisation cycles should be avoided without microbiological confirmation of continued carriage. Local microbiology data and antibiograms should guide prescribing decisions in institutional settings.

How to use Bactroban correctly

Skin ointment application

Wash your hands with soap and water before application.

Apply a small amount of Bactroban ointment directly to the affected skin area using a clean finger or sterile gauze. Spread the ointment in a thin, even layer.

The area may be covered with a sterile, non-adhesive dressing if appropriate. Apply up to three times daily for up to 10 days.

Wash your hands again after application unless the hands are the treatment area.

If the infection has not improved after 5 days, contact your GP for reassessment and possible wound swab for culture.

Nasal ointment application

Using the tip of a clean finger or a cotton bud, apply a small amount (approximately a matchhead-sized amount) of Bactroban nasal ointment to the inside of each nostril.

Close the nostrils by pressing them together gently and massage for approximately 1 minute to distribute the ointment throughout the anterior nares.

Apply two to three times daily for 5 days. Avoid blowing your nose immediately after application.

A nasal screening swab is typically taken 48 hours after completing the course to confirm eradication.

Side effects of Bactroban

Common side effects

The most commonly reported adverse effects are localised reactions at the application site.

With the skin ointment, these include a burning or stinging sensation, itching, erythema (redness), and dryness. These are usually mild and do not require discontinuation.

With the nasal ointment, the most common side effects are nasal irritation, rhinitis, and an altered or unpleasant taste (dysgeusia), which occurs because the ointment can drain from the posterior nasal passages into the throat.

Uncommon and rare side effects

Contact dermatitis and localised allergic skin reactions have been reported uncommonly. Sensitisation to mupirocin or to the ointment excipients may develop, particularly with prolonged or repeated use.

Systemic side effects are not expected because absorption through intact or even broken skin is minimal.

However, as noted in the warnings section, absorption of macrogol from the skin ointment base in patients with extensive wounds or burns may in rare cases lead to renal toxicity.

When to seek medical advice

Contact your GP or call NHS 111 if the infection worsens during treatment, if you develop spreading redness or red streaking from the wound, fever, significant swelling, or pus, as these signs may indicate deeper infection requiring systemic antibiotics.

Seek emergency care (call 999 or attend A&E) if you develop signs of a severe allergic reaction such as facial swelling, difficulty breathing, or widespread rash.

Report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk .

Who should not use Bactroban

Do not use Bactroban if you are allergic to mupirocin or to any of the excipients in the formulation.

The skin ointment contains macrogol (polyethylene glycol) in a paraffin base. The nasal ointment uses a soft white paraffin and sophorolipid base.

Check the patient information leaflet for the full list of excipients if you have known allergies to ointment ingredients.

Use of the skin ointment on extensive open wounds or in patients with significant renal impairment requires clinical judgement due to the risk of macrogol absorption.

In these cases, alternative agents (such as fusidic acid ointment for non-MRSA infections, or alternative decolonisation agents for MRSA) may be more appropriate.

How to get a Bactroban prescription in the UK

Bactroban is a prescription-only medicine (POM) in the UK and is not available over the counter. Your GP can prescribe it for bacterial skin infections after clinical assessment.

For MRSA decolonisation, the prescription is typically initiated by a microbiologist, infection control team, or hospital clinician and may be continued in the community via your GP.

Authorised online prescribers registered with the GPhC can prescribe Bactroban for appropriate indications following a structured clinical consultation. All UK prescriptions are dispensed by registered pharmacies.

The standard NHS prescription charge in England is 9.90 pounds per item; prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

When to seek urgent medical advice

Contact your GP or call NHS 111 if a skin infection does not improve after 5 days of treatment, if infection spreads to surrounding skin, if you develop fever or feel generally unwell, or if red streaking appears from the wound site (which may indicate lymphangitis or evolving cellulitis).

These signs suggest the infection may require oral or intravenous antibiotics rather than topical therapy alone.

Attend A&E or call 999 for signs of severe sepsis: high fever, rapid pulse, confusion, or mottled skin.

Report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk .

Sources

• Bactroban Ointment, Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)
• Bactroban Nasal Ointment, Summary of Product Characteristics (EMC)
• Mupirocin, British National Formulary (BNF)
• NICE CKS: Impetigo
• Impetigo, NHS
• MHRA Yellow Card Scheme