Medicines
SmPC of the 03/04/2025
FUSIDIC ACID VIATRIS 2 %, cream
Composition
Fusidic acid............................................................................................................................................2,000 g
For 100 g of cream.
Excipients with known effect: butylated hydroxyanisole (E320), cetyl alcohol, potassium sorbate and polysorbate 60.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (E320), potassium sorbate, cetyl alcohol, soft white paraffin, polysorbate 60, glycerol, liquid paraffin, purified water, hydrochloric acid.
Indications
Skin infections due to staphylococcus and streptococcus:
• Impetigo and impetiginized dermatoses:
- For topical treatment only in localized forms with a small number of lesions;
- As adjunctive topical treatment in combination with appropriate systemic antibiotic therapy in the most extensive forms.
• Disinfection of cutaneous and mucosal microbial carriage sites, in healthy carriers of stastaphylococci, and after staphylococcal infection, in particular furunculosis.
Official recommendations concerning the appropriate use of antibacterial agents should be taken into account.
Dosage and administration
Dosage
• Topical application with or without a dressing, once or twice daily after cleansing of the infected surface. Avoid application in a thick layer. Limit treatment to one week, as a guide.
• The cream form is more particularly suited to weeping, macerated lesions and skin folds.
• Do not use the ointment form on weeping or macerated lesions, nor in skin folds, nor on leg ulcers.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients listed in section Composition.
Warnings and precautions
Bacterial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus has been reported with the use of FUSIDIC ACID VIATRIS topically. As with all antibiotics, prolonged or recurrent use of fusidic acid may increase the risk of developing antibiotic resistance.
Excipients
This medicine contains cetyl alcohol and potassium sorbate and may cause local skin reactions (for example contact dermatitis).
This medicine contains butylated hydroxyanisole (E320) and may cause local skin reactions (for example contact dermatitis) or irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes.
FUSIDIC ACID VIATRIS should therefore be used with caution if applied near the eye.
Interactions
No interaction studies have been performed. Interactions with systemically administered pharmaceutical products are considered minimal, as the systemic absorption of FUSIDIC ACID VIATRIS topically is negligible.
Fertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
No effect during pregnancy is expected as systemic exposure to fusidic acid is negligible.
FUSIDIC ACID VIATRIS topically can be used during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding
No effect on breastfed newborns/infants is expected since the systemic exposure of the breastfeeding woman to fusidic acid is negligible. ACIDE FUSIDIQUE VIATRIS by topical route may be used during breastfeeding, but it is recommended to avoid applying it to the breast.
Fertility
No clinical studies on the effects of ACIDE FUSIDIQUE VIATRIS by topical route on fertility have been conducted.
Driving and using machines
ACIDE FUSIDIQUE VIATRIS by topical route has no or negligible effect on the ability to drive vehicles and use machines.
Adverse effects
The estimate of the frequency of adverse effects is based on a pooled analysis of data from clinical trials and spontaneous reports.
Based on pooled data obtained in clinical studies including 4 724 patients to whom fusidic acid cream or ointment was administered, the frequency of adverse effects amounts to 2,3 %.
The most frequently reported adverse effects are various skin reactions such as pruritus and rash, as well as various reactions limited to the application site, such as pain and irritation; these effects were observed in less than 1 % of patients.
Cases of hypersensitivity and Quincke's edema have been reported.
Adverse effects are presented by System Organ Class (SOC) according to the MedDRA classification, and each individual adverse effect is listed in decreasing order of frequency and severity
Very common (≥ 1/10)
Common (≥ 1/100 and < 1/10)
Uncommon (≥ 1/1 000 and < 1/100)
Rare (≥ 1/10 000 and < 1/1 000)
Very rare (< 1/10 000)
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Immune system disorders |
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Rare: (≥ 1/10 000 and <1/1 000) |
Hypersensitivity |
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Eye disorders |
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Rare: (≥ 1/10 000 and <1/1 000) |
Conjunctivitis |
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Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders |
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Uncommon: (≥ 1/1 000 and < 1/100) |
Dermatitis (including contact dermatitis, eczema) Rash* Pruritus, Erythema |
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Rare: (≥ 1/10 000 and < 1/1 000) |
Quincke's oedema Urticaria Blister |
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General disorders and administration site conditions |
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Uncommon: (≥ 1/1 000 and < 1/100) |
Pain at the application site (including skin burning sensation), irritation at the application site |
*Various types of rash have been observed, including erythematous, pustular, vesicular, maculopapular, papular and generalised rashes.
Paediatric population
The frequency, nature and severity of adverse effects in children should be the same as in adults.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reaction via the national reporting system: National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) and the network of Regional Centres of Pharmacovigilance - Website: https://signalement.social-sante.gouv.fr/.
Pharmacodynamics
Pharmacotherapeutic class: other antibiotics for topical use, ATC code: D06AX01.
Fusidic acid is an antibiotic with a steroid-like structure, belonging to the fusidane family.
ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY SPECTRUM
Critical concentrations separate susceptible strains from strains of intermediate susceptibility, and the latter from resistant ones:
S ≤ 2 mg/l and R > 16 mg/l
The prevalence of acquired resistance can vary according to geography and time for certain species. It is therefore useful to have information on local resistance prevalence, especially for the treatment of severe infections. These data can only provide guidance on the probabilities of the susceptibility of a bacterial strain to this antibiotic.
Where the variability of resistance prevalence in France is known for a bacterial species, it is indicated in the table below:
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Categories |
Frequency of acquired resistance in France (> 10%) (extreme values) |
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SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES |
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Gram-positive aerobes |
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Staphylococcus aureus |
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Staphylococcus spp. no aureus |
5 - 20 % |
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Anaerobes |
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Clostridium difficile |
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Clostridium perfringens |
|
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Peptostreptococcus |
|
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Propionibacterium acnes |
|
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MODERATELY SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES |
|
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(in vitro of intermediate susceptibility) |
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Gram-positive aerobes |
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Streptococcus |
|
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RESISTANT SPECIES |
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Gram-negative aerobes |
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Acinetobacter |
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Enterobacterales |
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Pseudomonas |
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Note: this spectrum corresponds to that of the systemic forms of fusidic acid. With local pharmaceutical presentations, the concentrations obtained in situ are much higher than plasma concentrations. Some uncertainties remain regarding the kinetics of in situ concentrations, the local physicochemical conditions that may modify the activity of the antibiotic, and the stability of the product in situ.
Fusidic acid acts by blocking the protein synthesis mechanisms of bacteria.
Pharmacokinetics
Fusidic acid, given its surfactant properties and its both lipophilic and hydrophilic character, penetrates well through the skin and is found in all layers of the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue.
Special storage precautions
Store at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.
After opening: to be stored for 6 months at a temperature not exceeding 25°C.
Prescription, supply and reimbursement
| Marketing authorisation (AMM) |
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| Price: |
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Collection.
1 RUE DE TURIN
69007 LYON
Tel: 04 37 25 75 00 https://www.viatris.fr/
Source: VIDAL · Updated on 10/11/2026. This information does not replace advice from a healthcare professional.
