Rifaximin: a novel nonabsorbed rifamycin for gastrointestinal disorders.
Rifaximin, a virtually nonabsorbed (<0.4%) rifamycin drug, has in vitro activity against aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms. Because rifaximin is nonabsorbed, systemic adverse effects are unusual, and after 3 days of therapy, the fecal level of the drug reaches 8000 microg/g. Moreover, the important selection of resistant mutants by the related drug, rifampin, has not yet been observed for rifaximin. Rifaximin has been demonstrated to reduce the duration of traveler's diarrhea secondary to noninvasive bacterial pathogens and recently has been shown to reduce the occurrence of the disease when used for chemoprophylaxis. Preliminary studies have demonstrated its potential for the treatment of other gastrointestinal disorders, such as hepatic encephalopathy. Additional studies should be performed to further define the role of rifaximin in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases in adults and children.
Adachi
Javier A
JA
Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. jaadachi@mdanderson.org
DuPont
Herbert L
HL
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018890:Chemoprevention; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000188:drug therapy; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D004403:Dysentery / Q000188:drug therapy; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D014195:Travel
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D000078262:Rifaximin