An occasional feature, prepared in the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's Professional Standards Directorate, to highlight problems and inquiries currently being handled
In April, a new cream formulation of the product Bactroban was brought on to the market in addition to the existing ointment. It has been brought to the attention of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society that the cream and ointment formulations have different licensed indications and as such are not interchangeable.
Bactroban ointment is licensed for primary bacterial skin infections (impetigo). Bactroban cream is licensed for secondary infected traumatic lesions. It will therefore be necessary for the pharmacist to check with the prescriber which product is required before supplying if the formulation is not expressly specified on the prescription. One formulation cannot be substituted for the other.
Bactroban Nasal remains available for the treatment of nasal staphylococci.