title: Early bactericidal activity of high-dose rifampin in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis evidenced by positive sputum smears.
abstract: We studied the early bactericidal activity of twice the standard dose of rifampin in subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis evidenced by positive smears. The observed mean 2-day activity was almost double that reported at the standard dose. Further studies are warranted to establish whether higher rifampin doses might assist in shortening tuberculosis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, South Africa. ahd@sun.ac.za
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Diacon
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Patientia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: van Helden
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McIlleron
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Maritz
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Donald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D012293:Rifampin