Overview of Mupirocin User Reviews

This section contains all of the individual user reviews and antibiotic susceptibilty rankings for Mupirocin (Bactroban, Centany).

If you have used MUPIROCIN as a treatment for acne vulgaris, please share your experience and opinions.

Type of Treatment: Rx Medication – Antibiotic (Topical) - Pseudomonic Acid Family

How It Works: Mupirocin is an antibiotic. Antibiotics can improve acne symptoms by limiting the growth of bacteria that contribute to Acne Vulgaris.

When is this medication used? Mupirocin is is used for the treatment of all types of acne, from mild to severe acne (Acne Types: 1-4).  In cases of moderate to severe acne (Acne Types: 3-4), Mupirocin is often combined with additional treatments (eg, oral antibiotic, oral retinoids and/or light and laser therapy).

Frequency of Mupirocin Resistant P. acnes Bacteria: Common. (What does this mean?)

Official Name: Mupirocin
Popular Brand Names: Bactroban, Centany, Dermoban, Micoban.

Important Note: The information provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. The Science of Acne strongly encourages you to consult a qualified medical professional before making any treatment decisions. For the complete disclaimer, click here.

Overall (Composite) Ranking for Mupirocin

The COMPOSITE ranking is calculated from a combination of all of the individual rankings for this medication (EFFECTIVENESS, ADVERSE EFFECTS and ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY).

This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (WORST) to 5 (BEST).

Share Your Experience with mupirocin – Rate This Medication

Effectiveness Ranking for Mupirocin

Topical mupirocin is a medication that is occasionally used to treat acne vulgaris.

Topical mupirocin appears to be moderately effective against mild to moderate acne (Acne Types: 1-2).  However, mupirocin tends to be innefective for the treatment of moderate to severe acne (Acne Types: 3-4).  Some types of bacteria can rapidly acquire resistance to mupirocin.  This can cause mupirocin to become less effective over time.

The EFFECTIVENESS ranking is based on patient reports of how effective this medication was at improving their acne symptoms.

This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NOT EFFECTIVE) to 5 (VERY EFFECTIVE).

Share Your Experience with mupirocin – Rate This Medication

Adverse Effects Ranking for Mupirocin

The ADVERSE EFFECTS ranking is based on patient reports about the adverse effects and side effects that they experienced with this medication.

This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NO SIDE EFFECTS) to 5 (SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS).

Share Your Experience with mupirocin – Rate This Medication

Antibiotic Susceptibility Ranking for Mupirocin

The ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY ranking is based on scientific research reports about the antibiotic sensitivity of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which is a bacterium that is a primary cause of acne symptoms. Our antibiotic susceptibility data is generated from the combined results of over 50 independent scientific studies. For more information about which antibiotics are most effective against P. acnes bacteria, visit the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes page.

Antibiotic susceptibility tests have indicated that Propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria primarily responsible for acne symptoms) is naturally resistant to mupirocin.

Frequency of mupirocin Resistant P. acnes Bacteria: Common. (What does this mean?)

This ranking is scored on a scale of 1 (NOT SUSCEPTIBLE) to 5 (VERY SUSCEPTIBLE).

Share Your Experience with mupirocin – Rate This Medication

User Recommendations for Mupirocin

The USER RECOMMENDATIONS chart indicates how many reviewers recommended this medication as a treatment for Acne Vulgaris. These recommendations are only from The Science of Acne users. For additional reviews of this medication from outside sources, refer to the section below.

There are four options available for this ranking:

YES (definitely recommended)
MAYBE (conditionally recommended)
NO (not recommended)
DON’T KNOW (no opinion)

Outside Reviews of Mupirocin

The following is a list of links to pages that review or discuss the use of this medication. Note: Some of these reviews are not specific to the use of this medication in the treatment of Acne Vulgaris.

Additional Patient Reviews of Mupirocin: Acne.org, WebMD, Drugs.com, RXList.com, DailyStrength.org, EverydayHealth.com, RateADrug.com.

Mupirocin Background

Mupirocin is an antibiotic that is primarily used in the treatment of skin infections.  It is a mixture of molecules called Pseudomonic acids.  These molecules kill susceptible bacteria by preventing the bacteria from utilizing an essential amino acid, isoleucine. Without isoleucine, bacteria are unable to synthesize new proteins and replicate.

Mupirocin is commonly used to treat Impetigo, and is also a useful addition to combination treatments for MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.  Because mupirocin has a different mechanism of action than most other antibiotics, it is often used in synergistic combinations with other oral and topical antibiotics.  These combination treatments are often more effective than the use of mupirocin alone.

Additional Names for Mupirocin: Bacrocin, Bactifree, Bactoderm, Bactrocin, Bactrocine, Bagobiotic, Bantix, Betrion, Biobactron, Dermoban, Foskina, Micoban, Mirobact, Mupax, Mupider, Mupiderm, Mupiral, Mupirocina, Mupirocine, Mupirocinum, Mupirox, Mupiskin, Paldar, Pibaksin, Plasimine, Pseudomonic Acid, Pseudomoninsäure, Seladerm, Spectroderm, Supirocin and Turixin.

Important Note: The information provided on this site is intended for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any diseases. The Science of Acne strongly encourages you to consult a qualified medical professional before making any treatment decisions. For the complete disclaimer, click here.

Cost and Availability of Mupirocin

When possible, mupirocin should be obtained through consultation of a physician. Many doctors and dermatologists are familiar with this medication, although many are not.  Mupirocin is moderately expensive and is widely available in brand name and generic formulations.

Important Note: The information provided above is not intended as a recommendation or endorsement. The Science of Acne encourages you to adhere to all applicable legal regulations in your jurisdiction. Before ordering pharmaceutical medications online, please read our overview: A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet.

Related Articles from The Science of Acne

In Depth: Mupirocin and Acne
Avoiding Negative Drug Interactions
A Guide to Buying Prescription Medications on the Internet
Prescription Medications Used in Acne Treatment
What causes acne?

References and Sources

Books

PDR Staff Writers. 2011. 2011 Physicians’ Desk Reference
Gallagher. 2011. Antibiotics Simplified, Second Edition
Habif. 2009. Clinical Dermatology
Goodheart. 2006. Acne For Dummies
Bartlett. 2012. Johns Hopkins Antibiotics Guide 2012

Online Resources

PubMed Health – The National Institute of Health (US)
Mupirocin @ Wikipedia
Physician’s Insert for Mupirocin

Scientific Research Articles

1. Marina, et al. 2006. The most frequently used topical antibacterial agents in the dermatology practice.
2. Del Rosso, et al. 2008. Antibiotic use in acne vulgaris and rosacea: clinical considerations and resistance issues of significance to dermatologists.
3. Werner, et al. 1999. Mupirocin, fusidic acid and bacitracin: activity, action and clinical uses of three topical antibiotics.
4. Sutherland, et al. 1985. Antibacterial activity of mupirocin (pseudomonic acid), a new antibiotic for topical use..
5. Ward, et al. 1986. Mupirocin. A review of its antibacterial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic use.
6. Pappa, et al. 1990. The clinical development of mupirocin.
7. Leyden, et al. 2001. The evolving role of Propionibacterium acnes in acne.
8. Goulden, et al. 2003. Guidelines for the management of acne vulgaris in adolescents.
9. Cookson, et al. 1998. The emergence of mupirocin resistance: a challenge to infection control and antibiotic prescribing practice.
10. Bass, et al. 1997. Comparison of oral cephalexin, topical mupirocin and topical bacitracin for treatment of impetigo.
11. Graton, et al. 1987. Topical mupirocin versus oral erythromycin in the treatment of primary and secondary skin infections.