What Is Bactroban Cream Used For?

BACTROBAN cream contains the active ingredient mupirocin calcium (2% w/w). Mupirocin calcium belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. Antibiotics
work by killing bacteria which can cause infection.

BACTROBAN cream is used to treat small wounds which have become infected. These wounds
may include small cuts and abrasions or stitches.

BACTROBAN cream is for use on your skin only.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed
for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed BACTROBAN cream for another reason.
There is no evidence that BACTROBAN cream is addictive.

How to Take Bactroban Cream

Follow your doctor’s instructions about how and when to use BACTROBAN cream.
The instructions from your doctor may differ from the information contained in this
leaflet.
If you have any questions about BACTROBAN cream and how to use it, please ask your
doctor or pharmacist.

How much to use
use BACTROBAN cream as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.
the usual recommendation is for a small amount to be applied to the affected area.

When to use BACTROBAN cream
use BACTROBAN cream for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you to.
BACTROBAN cream is usually applied three times a day for up to 10 days. Your doctor
will tell you how many times to apply the ointment.
it is important that you take the full course of BACTROBAN cream. Do not stop early
as your symptoms may disappear before the infection is fully treated.

How to apply BACTROBAN cream
always wash your hands before and after applying BACTROBAN cream.
with a piece of clean cotton wool or a gauze swab, apply a small quantity of BACTROBAN
cream to cover the affected area.
after applying the cream, you may cover the treated area with a sterile bandage or
gauze dressing, unless your doctor has told you to leave it uncovered.

If you forget to use BACTROBAN cream
If you forget an application, apply some BACTROBAN cream as soon as you remember,
then continue as before.
Do not use a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you use too much BACTROBAN cream (overdose)
If you think that you have used too much BACTROBAN cream, or have swallowed it accidentally,
you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately

phone the Poisons Information Centre (by calling
13 11 26 in Australia), or
contact your doctor, or
go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Side Effects

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of
them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you
have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effects

What to do

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

itching
redness
stinging of the skin

Nervous system disorders

headache

Gastrointestinal disorders

nausea
diarrhoea

Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry
you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects

What to do

Immune system disorders and allergic reactions

allergic reactions such as rash, hives or swelling can occur with the use of BACTROBAN
cream. Stop using BACTROBAN cream and tell your doctor immediately if you notice any
of the following symptoms:

wheezing
swelling of the lips/mouth
difficulty in breathing
hayfever
lumpy rash (hives)
fainting

Gastrointestinal disorders

inflammation of the colon (large intestine). Symptoms include

diarrhoea, usually with blood and mucous
stomach pain
fever

Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your
nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you
feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any
of them.

Reporting side effects
After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can
report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of
this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop
taking any of your medicines.

Important Warnings

Warnings

Do not use BACTROBAN cream if:
you are allergic to mupirocin calcium, or any of the ingredients listed at the end
of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack has passed, or if the packaging is torn
or shows signs of tampering.
you have large areas of broken or damaged skin in the treatment area, especially if
you suffer from reduced kidney function.

Check with your doctor if you:
are not sure whether you should start using this medicine.
have any allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives or any other medicine.
take any medicines for any other condition.
During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important
you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information
under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed.
Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits with you.
If you are using BACTROBAN cream on a cracked nipple, wash the nipple well before
breastfeeding your baby.

Children
The use of BACTROBAN cream in children under two years of age is not recommended.

Drug Interactions

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with BACTROBAN cream and affect how it works.

Do not mix BACTROBAN cream with any other preparation. This may prevent BACTROBAN
cream from working.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins
or supplements you are taking and if these affect
BACTROBAN cream.

Alcohol & Driving

Things you should do:
stop using BACTROBAN cream and tell your doctor if you develop an allergic reaction
(such as a rash, local pain or swelling).
keep the cream away from your eyes, nose or mouth unless directed by your doctor.
If BACTROBAN cream is accidentally applied to the eyes, wash the eyes thoroughly with
water.
remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using BACTROBAN CREAM.

Call your doctor straight away if you:
have not used BACTROBAN cream as directed. Otherwise, your doctor may think it has
not worked as it should and change your treatment unnecessarily.
become pregnant while using BACTROBAN cream.

Things you should not do:
do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
do not stop using BACTROBAN cream, or change the dose, without first checking with
your doctor.
do not use BACTROBAN CREAM to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says to.
do not treat infections in or near the eyes, nostrils or mouth unless directed by
your doctor.
do not use BACTROBAN cream to treat areas of skin near tubes inserted into your body
for the delivery or removal of fluid (cannulae). BACTROBAN cream should not be used
in combination with cannulae.

Looking after your medicine
Follow the instructions in the carton on how to take care of your medicine properly.
Store it in the original pack in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight
where the temperature stays below 25˚C. Do not freeze the cream.
Do not store it:
in the bathroom or near a sink, or
in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine
If you no longer need to use this medicine, it has expired or is damaged, take it
to any pharmacy for safe disposal.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date or if the packaging is torn or shows
signs of tampering.

Frequently Asked Questions