Foban cream and ointment

Also called fusidate sodium or fusidic acid

Key points about Foban®

Foban® is an antibiotic cream or ointment.
It’s used to treat skin infections such as impetigo (school sores).
Find out how to use Foban® and possible side effects.

Foban® is an antibiotic cream and ointment that stops bacteria from growing and multiplying. It’s used to treat the skin infection impetigo (school sores) when other treatment hasn’t worked or there are only a few sores to treat.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, Foban is available as:

Foban® cream (contains 2% fusidic acid)
Foban® ointment (contains 2% fusidate sodium).

These products are only available on a prescription written by a prescriber.

Wash your hands before and after applying the cream or ointment.
The usual instructions for children or adults are to gently apply the cream or ointment to the infected sores 2 times a day.
Always use your Foban cream or ointment as your healthcare provider has told you. The pharmacy label on your medicine will tell you how often to apply the cream or ointment and any special instructions.
If the area you’re applying the cream or ointment to doesn't improve within a few days, tell your healthcare provider.

Unless your healthcare provider has told you different instructions:

don’t use the cream or ointment for more than 5 days in a row
don’t cover the affected area with dressings
don’t apply to large areas of skin or near your eyes.

Using Foban for longer periods or more often than advised by your healthcare provider can cause bacterial resistance. Read more about antibiotic resistance.

Like all medicines Foban can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. If you're concerned about any symptoms you think might be related to your medicine, talk to your healthcare provider.

Tell your healthcare provider if these side effects bother you.