Can you take mupirocin while breastfeeding?
What LactMed says
The National Library of Medicine’s own summary, quoted in full. We do not write a verdict of our own on this question, and we do not compress theirs into a label.
Because less than 1% is absorbed after topical application, mupirocin is considered a low risk to the nursing infant. Ensure that the infant's skin does not come into direct contact with the areas of skin that have been treated. Only water-miscible cream or gel products should be applied to the breast because ointments may expose the infant to high levels of mineral paraffins via licking. Mupirocin applied topically to the nipples appears to be relatively ineffective as a treatment for sore, cracked nipples.
Quoted from Mupirocin — Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, revised November 15, 2024.
What LactMed would consider instead
LactMed ends this record by naming the drugs it would consider in place of mupirocin. Whether any of them fits depends on what you are treating — this is the database’s list, not a recommendation from us.
- Bacitracin
How much mupirocin gets into breastmilk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
What has been seen in breastfed infants
A mother who was exclusively nursing her 52-day-old infant developed a soft-tissue infection. She was treated with intravenous teicoplanin 400 mg every 12 hours for 3 doses, then 400 mg daily for 5 days total, intravenous ceftriaxone 1 gram daily, topical mupirocin cream twice daily. A careful follow-up indicated that her infant had no adverse effects.
Effects on milk supply
A small, randomized, unblinded trial of mothers with sore, cracked nipples was performed. Mupirocin 2% applied to the nipples after each feeding was much less effective (16% vs 79%) than an oral antibiotic (cloxacillin or erythromycin for 10 days) in resolving the problem. Additionally, more patients' condition worsened (28% vs 5%) with mupirocin than with an oral antibiotic.
In a randomized, double-bind trial, lanolin was compared to an all-purpose nipple ointment containing mupirocin 1%, betamethasone 0.05%, and miconazole 2% for painful nipples while nursing in the first 2 weeks postpartum. The two treatments were equally effective in reducing nipple pain, nipple healing time, breastfeeding duration, breastfeeding exclusivity rate, mastitis and nipple symptoms, side effects or maternal satisfaction with treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take mupirocin while breastfeeding?
Because less than 1% is absorbed after topical application, mupirocin is considered a low risk to the nursing infant. The full record is quoted on this page, and the decision is one to make with the person who prescribed it — LactMed itself states it is not a substitute for professional judgement.
What can I take instead of mupirocin while breastfeeding?
LactMed lists Bacitracin as alternate drugs to consider. That is the database's own list for this drug — whether any of them suits you depends on what you are treating.
Does mupirocin pass into breastmilk?
LactMed's measured drug levels for mupirocin are quoted in full on this page, under "How much gets into breastmilk".
Do I need to pump and dump after taking mupirocin?
LactMed does not frame its records that way — it reports measured drug levels in milk and what has been observed in breastfed infants, which is what this page quotes. "Pump and dump" advice for a specific drug and dose should come from your clinician or a pharmacist, not from a general rule.
More on mupirocin
LactMed states that the information it presents is not a substitute for professional judgement, and that you should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. Nothing on this page is medical advice.