Mupirocin Ointment 2%

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

1. What MUPIROCIN ointment is and what it is used for
2. What do you need to know before you use MUPIROCIN ointment
3. How to use MUPIROCIN ointment
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store MUPIROCIN ointment
6. Contents of the pack and other information

• if you are allergic to mupirocin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6.).
• in your eyes, nose or around intravenous cannula (‘drip’) sites.

Do not use if the above applies to you. If you are not sure do not use this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using MUPIROCIN ointment.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using MUPIROCIN ointment.

MUPIROCIN ointment can cause severe skin reactions or allergies. See ‘Conditions to look out for’ in section 4.

Thrush (a yeast infection) may develop if MUPIROCIN ointment is used for a long time. If this occurs, tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep the ointment away from your eyes. If the ointment gets into your eyes accidentally, wash them thoroughly with water.

Do not use MUPIROCIN ointment in newborns under 4 weeks of age.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine.

If a cracked nipple is being treated, the ointment must be thoroughly washed off prior to breast-feeding.

MUPIROCIN ointment has no effects on the ability to drive or use machines.

Talk to your doctor before using this medicine if you:

• have kidney problems
• have large areas of open wounds or damaged skin to be treated

and may cause local skin reactions (e.g. contact dermatitis), or irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes.

Do not mix MUPIROCIN ointment with any other external cream or ointment medicines on the infected area of your skin as this may reduce the effectiveness of MUPIROCIN ointment.

You usually apply MUPIROCIN ointment on your skin 2 to 3 times a day.

1. Wash and dry your hands before you open the tube.
2. Apply ointment to the infected area of your skin.
3. You can cover the treated area with a plaster(s) or suitable dressing(s), unless your doctor has told you to leave it uncovered.
4. Replace the cap on the tube and wash your hands.

Use MUPIROCIN ointment for as long as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist. The bacteria are normally cleared from your skin within 10 days of starting treatment.

Do not use for more than 10 days.

Throw away any ointment that is left over.

• If you use more MUPIROCIN ointment than you should, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
• Remove excessive ointment with a clean wad of cotton wool or gauze swab.
• If you swallow MUPIROCIN ointment, contact your doctor immediately and indicate what and how much you have swallowed.

• If you forget to apply MUPIROCIN ointment, apply it as soon as you remember.
• If your next dose is due within an hour, skip the missed dose.
• Do not use a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop using MUPIROCIN ointment too early, not all the bacteria may have been killed or they may continue to grow. Ask your doctor or pharmacist when to stop using the ointment.

Severe skin reactions or allergies

These are very rare in people using MUPIROCIN ointment. Signs include:

• raised and itchy rash
• swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, causing difficulty in breathing
• collapse or loss of consciousness.
  • Contact a doctor immediately if you get any of these symptoms. Stop using MUPIROCIN ointment.

If you develop a severe skin reaction or an allergy:

• wash off the ointment
• stop using it and
• tell your doctor as soon as possible.

On rare occasions, medicines like MUPIROCIN ointment can cause inflammation of the colon (large intestine), causing diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucus, stomach pain, fever (pseudomembranous colitis).

• Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you get any of these symptoms.

The following side effects may happen with this medicine:

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Burning where the ointment is applied.

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Itching, redness, stinging and dryness on your skin in the place where MUPIROCIN ointment is applied.
• Allergic rash, itching, redness or soreness of the skin can also occur on other parts of your body.

Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)

• Swollen face and/or difficulty breathing. This may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction that could require emergency treatment.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

• The active substance is mupirocin.
  1 g of ointment contains 20 mg mupirocin.
• The other ingredients are polyethylene glycol 400 and polyethylene glycol 3350 (with butylated hydroxytoluene (E 321)).

• MUPIROCIN ointment is a homogenous off-white ointment.
• MUPIROCIN ointment is available in 5 g or 15 g aluminium tubes. Each tube comes in a carton. Cartons may be bundled to receive packs of 2 x 5 g, 3 x 5 g or 2 x 15 g.
• Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

This medicine is authorised in the Member States of the European Economic Area and in the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland) under the following names:

Germany INFECTOPYODERM 20 mg/g Salbe

United Kingdom MUPIROCIN 20 mg/g ointment