Adjunctive rifampin therapy for central nervous system staphylococcal infections.
OBJECTIVE
To review the published clinical data assessing the role of adjunctive rifampin therapy for the treatment of staphylococcal central nervous system (CNS) infections.


METHODS
A MEDLINE search (January 1966-March 2000) of English-language literature pertaining to CNS staphylococcal infections and rifampin was performed; tertiary sources were also used.


METHODS
Human data and case reports were included, as no clinical trials have been published.


RESULTS
Retrospective reviews of rifampin used in combination with other antibiotics for serious bacterial infections show conflicting results. Few case reports have described clinical successes with adjunctive rifampin therapy for CNS infections.


CONCLUSIONS
The routine use of adjunctive rifampin for CNS infections cannot be justified.
Brackbill
M L
ML
Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, VA, USA.
Brophy
G M
GM
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000904:Antibiotics, Antitubercular; D012293:Rifampin