Warnings for Mupirocin Cream
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Mupirocin Cream
Severe Allergic Reactions
Systemic allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, and generalized rash, have been reported in patients treated with formulations of mupirocin, including mupirocin cream [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Eye Irritation
Avoid contact with the eyes. In case of accidental contact, rinse well with water.
Local Irritation
In the event of a sensitization or severe local irritation from mupirocin cream, usage should be discontinued, and appropriate alternative therapy for the infection instituted.
Clostridium Difficile-Associated Diarrhea
Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.
C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin-producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial drug use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over 2 months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial drug use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile, and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.
Potential For Microbial Overgrowth
As with other antibacterial products, prolonged use of mupirocin cream may result in overgrowth of nonsusceptible microorganisms, including fungi [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION] .
Risk Associated With Mucosal Use
Mupirocin cream is not formulated for use on mucosal surfaces. A separate formulation, mupirocin nasal ointment, is available for intranasal use.
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
Advise the patient to administer mupirocin cream as follows:
Use mupirocin cream only as directed by the healthcare provider. It is for external use only. Avoid contact of mupirocin cream with the eyes. If mupirocin cream gets in the eyes, rinse thoroughly with water.
- Do not use mupirocin cream in the nose.
- Wash your hands before and after applying mupirocin cream.
- Use a gauze pad or cotton swab to apply a small amount of mupirocin cream to the affected area. The treated area may be covered by gauze dressing if desired.
- Report to the healthcare provider any signs of local adverse reactions. Mupirocin cream should be stopped and the healthcare provider contacted if irritation, severe itching, or rash occurs.
- Report to the healthcare provider or go to the nearest emergency room if severe allergic reactions, such as swelling of the lips, face, or tongue, or wheezing occur [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS] .
- If no improvement is seen in 3 to 5 days, contact the healthcare provider.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Long-term studies in animals to evaluate carcinogenic potential of mupirocin calcium have not been conducted.
Results of the following studies performed with mupirocin calcium or mupirocin sodium in vitro and in vivo did not indicate a potential for genotoxicity: rat primary hepatocyte unscheduled DNA synthesis, sediment analysis for DNA strand breaks, Salmonella reversion test (Ames), Escherichia coli mutation assay, metaphase analysis of human lymphocytes, mouse lymphoma assay, and bone marrow micronuclei assay in mice.
In a fertility/reproductive performance study (with dosing through lactation), mupirocin administered subcutaneously to male and female rats at doses up to 100 mg per kg per day which is 14 times the human topical dose (approximately 60 mg mupirocin per day) based on calculations of dose divided by the entire body surface area, did not result in impaired fertility or impaired reproductive performance attributable to mupirocin.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are insufficient human data to establish whether there is a drug-associated risk with mupirocin cream in pregnant women. Systemic absorption of mupirocin through intact human skin is minimal following topical administration of mupirocin cream [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY] . No developmental toxicity was observed in rats or rabbits treated with mupirocin subcutaneously during organogenesis at doses of 160 or 40 mg per kg per day, respectively (22 and 11 times the human topical dose based on calculations of dose divided by the entire body surface area).
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. The estimated background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2% to 4% and of miscarriage is 15% to 20% of clinically recognized pregnancies.
Data
Animal Data
Developmental toxicity studies have been performed with mupirocin administered subcutaneously to rats and rabbits at doses up to 160 mg per kg per day during organogenesis. This dose is 22 and 43 times, respectively, the human topical dose (approximately 60 mg mupirocin per day) based on calculations of dose divided by the entire body surface area. Maternal toxicity was observed (body weight loss/decreased body weight gain and reduced feeding) in both species with no evidence of developmental toxicity in rats. In rabbits, excessive maternal toxicity at the high dose precluded the evaluation of fetal outcomes. There was no developmental toxicity in rabbits at 40 mg per kg per day, 11 times the human topical dose based on calculations of dose divided by the entire body surface area.
Mupirocin administered subcutaneously to rats in a pre- and postnatal development study (dosed during late gestation through lactation) was associated with reduced offspring viability in the early postnatal period at a dose of 106.7 mg per kg, in the presence of injection site irritation and/or subcutaneous hemorrhaging. This dose is 14 times the human topical dose based on calculations of dose divided by the entire body surface area. The no-observed adverse effect level in this study was 44.2 mg per kg per day, which is 6 times the human topical dose.
Lactation
Risk Summary
It is not known whether mupirocin is present in human milk, has effects on the breastfed child, or has effects on milk production. However, breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to the drug due to the minimal systemic absorption of mupirocin in humans following topical administration of mupirocin cream [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY] . The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for mupirocin cream and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from mupirocin cream or from the underlying maternal condition.
Clinical Considerations
To minimize oral exposure of the drug to children, a breast and/or nipple being treated with mupirocin cream should be thoroughly washed prior to breastfeeding.
Pediatric Use
The safety and effectiveness of mupirocin cream have been established in the agegroups of 3 months to 16 years. Use of mupirocin cream in these age-groups is supported by evidence from adequate and well-controlled trials of mupirocin cream in adults with additional data from 93 pediatric subjects studied as part of the pivotal trials in adults [see Clinical Studies] .
Geriatric Use
In 2 adequate and well-controlled trials, 30 subjects older than 65 years were treated with mupirocin cream. No overall difference in the efficacy or safety of mupirocin cream was observed in this patient population when compared with that observed in younger patients.