Mupirocin Concentration
Mupirocin is available as a 2% ointment formulation for the treatment of bacterial skin infections. 1
Standard Formulation
- Mupirocin 2% ointment is the FDA-approved concentration for topical use in treating superficial skin infections 1
- This 2% formulation is consistently recommended across all major clinical guidelines for both treatment and decolonization purposes 2, 3, 4
Clinical Applications by Concentration
For Skin Infections
- Apply mupirocin 2% ointment three times daily for impetigo and localized staphylococcal/streptococcal infections 4
- Treatment duration is typically 5 days for impetigo 4 or 5-10 days for other superficial infections 3
- Clinical cure or marked improvement occurs in over 90% of patients with bacterial eradication 5, 6
For Nasal Decolonization
- Use mupirocin 2% ointment (or 2% calcium mupirocin nasal formulation) applied to each nostril twice daily 2
- For surgical prophylaxis: start at least 48 hours before surgery and continue for 5-7 days total 2
- For recurrent staph infections: apply twice daily for the first 5 days of each month, which reduces recurrences by approximately 50% 3
Important Formulation Considerations
- The standard polyethylene glycol-based 2% ointment is for external use only and should not be used on mucosal surfaces 1
- A paraffin-based formulation (Bactroban Nasal with mupirocin calcium) is specifically available for intranasal use 1
- No other concentrations (higher or lower than 2%) are clinically used or FDA-approved 1
Key Clinical Caveat
- Avoid using the polyethylene glycol-based 2% ointment in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment when treating large open wounds, as polyethylene glycol can be absorbed and is renally excreted 1