title: Use of rifaximin in gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
abstract: Rifaximin is a broad spectrum oral antibiotic with antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. It is poorly absorbed and thus has a highly favorable safety profile. Rifaximin has been shown to be effective in the treatment of traveler's diarrhea, functional bloating and irritable bowel syndrome, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and in the prevention of recurrent overt hepatic encephalopathy. In addition, there is emerging evidence for a possible beneficial effect of rifaximin in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticular disease and in the prevention of recurrent diverticulitis. The use of rifaximin is associated with a low incidence of development, or persistence of spontaneous bacterial mutants. Moreover, the development of important drug resistance among extra-intestinal flora during rifaximin therapy is unlikely because of minimal systemic absorption and limited cross-resistance of rifaximin with other antimicrobials. This review addresses the current and emerging role of rifaximin in the treatment of gastrointestinal and liver disorders.
authors.affiliation: Rani H Shayto, Rachel Abou Mrad, Ala I Sharara, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rani H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Shayto
authors.affiliation: Rani H Shayto, Rachel Abou Mrad, Ala I Sharara, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abou Mrad
authors.affiliation: Rani H Shayto, Rachel Abou Mrad, Ala I Sharara, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ala I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sharara
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000188:drug therapy; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012294:Rifamycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000078262:Rifaximin; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D012294:Rifamycins; D000078262:Rifaximin
keywords: Bacterial overgrowth; Diverticular disease; Hepatic encephalopathy; Inflammatory bowel disease; Irritable bowel syndrome