title: Rifampin prophylaxis for contacts of Haemophilus influenzae type b disease.
abstract: Rifampin prophylaxis (20 mg/kg once daily for four days) was used in close contacts of children with Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) disease. Two hours after a dose, the concentration of rifampin in serum and saliva exceeded the minimum bactericidal concentrations of organisms obtained from four of the carriers. In both a randomized prospective and an open study, nasopharyngeal carriage was eradicated in 37 (95%) of 39 contacts. No cases of serious H influenzae disease occurred in four to six months of follow-up. At the dose and treatment schedule used, rifampin was safe and effective for eradication of HIB carriage.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008583:Meningitis, Haemophilus / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D012293:Rifampin