To apply mupirocin ointment in your nose, squeeze about half the single-use tube into one nostril, the other half into the opposite nostril, then pinch and massage your nostrils closed for about one minute to spread the ointment. The standard regimen is twice daily for five days. The process is simple, but getting the technique right matters for the medication to work properly.
Step-by-Step Application
Start by washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water. This prevents introducing new bacteria into your nostrils and keeps the ointment uncontaminated.
Squeeze approximately half the ointment from the tube directly into one nostril. Then squeeze the remaining half into the other nostril. You don’t need to insert the tube tip deeply; just inside the nostril opening is sufficient. In hospital settings, nurses sometimes dispense a blueberry-sized amount onto a clean cotton swab for each nostril and use the swab to apply it. Either method works, but if you’re using single-use tubes at home, squeezing directly from the tube is the standard approach.
Once both nostrils have ointment inside, close your nostrils by pressing the sides of your nose together, then release. Repeat this pinching motion for about one minute. You can also gently massage the outside of your nose while pressing the sides together. This spreading step is important: it distributes the ointment across the inner surfaces of both nostrils, where bacteria tend to colonize.
Wash your hands again after you’re done. If you’re using single-use tubes, throw each tube away after one application, even if it seems like there’s ointment left inside.
How Often and How Long to Use It
The typical schedule is twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, for five days. This applies whether you’re using it before a surgery or to clear a staph infection from your nasal passages. CDC guidelines recommend the same five-day, twice-daily protocol for hospital patients and for people preparing for high-risk surgical procedures.
Finish the full course even if you feel no symptoms. Mupirocin works by stopping bacteria from building proteins they need to survive and multiply. Cutting the course short gives remaining bacteria a chance to regrow or develop resistance, which can make future treatment harder.
Why It’s Prescribed
Mupirocin nasal ointment is most commonly prescribed to eliminate staph bacteria, including MRSA, that live inside the nostrils. Many people carry staph in their nose without knowing it. That’s usually harmless on its own, but the bacteria can spread to surgical wounds, IV catheter sites, or broken skin and cause serious infections.
The most common scenarios where you’d be asked to use it include preparation before a scheduled surgery (especially joint replacements, heart procedures, or other high-risk operations), clearing MRSA colonization after a positive nasal swab, and reducing infection risk during a hospital or ICU stay. In these cases, nasal mupirocin is typically paired with antiseptic body washes as part of a broader decolonization protocol.
What Side Effects to Expect
Most people tolerate nasal mupirocin well, but mild side effects are common. In clinical trials, headache was the most frequently reported issue at 9%, followed by a runny or irritated nose (6%) and nasal congestion (5%). A sore throat occurred in about 4% of users, and roughly 3% noticed an unpleasant taste in the mouth, which happens because the nasal passages connect to the back of your throat. Mild burning or stinging inside the nose affects about 2% of users and typically fades quickly.
Less common reactions, occurring in under 1% of people, include nosebleeds, dry mouth, ear pain, nausea, and rash. Severe allergic reactions are rare but have been reported after the drug reached the market. If you develop significant swelling, hives, or difficulty breathing, stop using the ointment and seek medical attention.
If the burning or irritation inside your nostrils gets noticeably worse with each application rather than better, that can signal a sensitivity reaction. In that case, it’s reasonable to stop and contact whoever prescribed it.
Important Precautions
The nasal formulation of mupirocin is specifically designed for use inside the nostrils. It’s different from the topical mupirocin ointment sold for skin wounds, which is not meant for mucosal surfaces like the inside of your nose. Make sure you’re using the correct product.
Avoid getting the ointment in your eyes. If accidental contact happens, rinse your eyes thoroughly with water. Keep the ointment away from your mouth as well, though some taste disturbance is normal simply because of the nasal-to-throat connection.
Store the ointment at room temperature, between 68°F and 77°F. Don’t refrigerate it or leave it in a hot car, as extreme temperatures can degrade the active ingredient. If you’re using a multi-dose tube rather than single-use packets, keep the cap tightly closed between applications.
Tips for a Smoother Application
Gently blow your nose before applying the ointment. Clearing excess mucus helps the medication contact the nasal lining directly rather than sitting on top of mucus that will eventually be expelled.
If you find it awkward to squeeze the tube directly into your nostril, a clean cotton swab works as an alternative applicator. Dispense a small amount onto the swab tip, then gently rotate the swab just inside the nostril opening. Use a fresh swab for each nostril to avoid cross-contamination.
Try to keep your head upright or slightly tilted forward during the massage step. Tilting your head back may cause the ointment to drip toward your throat, which increases that unpleasant taste some people notice. The pinching and massaging motion is meant to push the ointment outward along the inner walls of the nostril, not deeper into the nasal cavity.