Bactroban Cream

Drugs - Bactroban (mupirocin) 2% cream; Bactroban (mupirocin) 2% Nasal ointment

December 2017

Therapeutic area - topical antibiotic

Preferred

mupirocin 2% ointment 22 gram tubes

* Generic mupirocin 2% ointment is available in 22 gram tubes.

Patient has a skin infection susceptible to mupirocin and which should be treated by a topical antibiotic AND
Patient cannot use mupirocin 2% ointment

Bactroban Nasal is being used as indicated for the eradication of nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant S. aureus in adult patients and health care workers as part of a comprehensive infection control program to reduce the risk of infection among patients at high risk of methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection during institutional outbreaks of infections with this pathogen. (FDA approved indication) AND
Patient cannot otherwise use mupirocin 2% ointment

Bactroban (mupirocin) 2% cream is more expensive than mupirocin ointment and there is no evidence to show that mupirocin 2% cream is more effective than mupirocin 2% ointment.
Bactroban Nasal is a packaging convenience and is significantly more expensive than a 22 gram tube of mupirocin ointment.
Mupirocin ointment 2% can be used in the same manner as the Nasal packaging: (Nasal directions: “A small amount of the ointment about the size of a match head is placed on the little finger and applied to the inside of each nostril. The nostrils are closed by pressing the side of the nose together; this will spread the ointment throughout the nares. A swab may be used for application to infants or patients who are very ill.”)

MHCP Provider Call Center 651-431-2700 or 800-366-5411