title: Rifaximin: a nonabsorbed oral antibiotic.
abstract: Rifaximin is a rifamycin analogue with a broad spectrum of activity similar to that of rifampin; however, because it is poorly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, the focus of its development has been on intestinal infections and diseases. This agent has proven to be as effective as ciprofloxacin in treating travelers' diarrhea due to Escherichia coli, although it is ineffective in treating infections due to Campylobacter jejuni. Other potential uses for rifaximin in gastroenterologic disorders include treatment of hepatic encephalopathy, intestinal gas and gas-related symptoms, diverticular disease, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, pouchitis, ulcerative colitis, and active Crohn's disease. This article highlights several studies demonstrating the efficacy of rifaximin in treating travelers' diarrhea as well as other gastrointestinal diseases and discusses the drug's pharmacokinetics, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, and dosing.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Spokane, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Danial E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D005740:Gases; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007422:Intestines / Q000502:physiology; D007792:Lactulose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012293:Rifampin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005740:Gases; D012294:Rifamycins; D007792:Lactulose; D000078262:Rifaximin; D012293:Rifampin