title: A randomized, double-blind, pilot study of rifaximin 550 mg versus placebo in the prevention of travelers' diarrhea in Mexico during the dry season.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rifaximin has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing travelers' diarrhea (TD) during the summer season.
  
  
  METHODS
  The goal of this double-blinded multicenter trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of rifaximin 550 mg administered once daily for 14 days compared with placebo in the prevention of TD during the dry season in Mexico.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 101 participants randomized. Overall, 25 participants developed TD during the 3 weeks of the study: 22% from the rifaximin group and 29% from the placebo group (p = 0.4). Mild diarrhea (defined as only one or two unformed stools during a 24-h period plus at least one abdominal symptoms) developed in only 3 (6%) participants taking rifaximin compared with 10 (21%) taking placebo during the first week of study (p = 0.03). No clinically significant or serious adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antibiotic prophylaxis of TD in Mexico during the dry season needs to be further studied and its benefits weighed against the benefits of self-treatment.
authors: Center for Infectious Diseases, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, USA. jose.flores.figueroa@uth.tmc.edu
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Flores
authors: Herbert L
authors: HL
authors: Dupont
authors: Zhi-Dong
authors: ZD
authors: Jiang
authors: Pablo C
authors: PC
authors: Okhuysen
authors: Juan H
authors: JH
authors: Melendez-Romero
authors: Alexei
authors: A
authors: Gonzalez-Estrada
authors: Ismael
authors: I
authors: Carrillo
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Paredes
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D012621:Seasons; D014195:Travel; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D000078262:Rifaximin