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New Non-Absorbed Antibiotic Safe for GI Complaints Full Text
Emergency Medicine News, 06/02/2011
Playe S et al.– When antibiotic therapy is warranted in uncomplicated traveler's diarrhea, rifaximin may be considered as a first-line option because of its favourable efficacy, tolerability, and safety profiles.
- Review of 10 studies noted that administration three times a day for three days is superior to loperamide and at least as effective as ciprofloxacin.
- There is minimal potential for drug interaction or development of bacterial resistance, and the tolerability profile is similar to placebo.
- Prophylactic once-daily administration of 1,100 mg has been shown to reduce the incidence of travelers' diarrhea in deployed military personnel from 19.2 percent with placebo to 6.3 percent with treatment.
- Rifaximin also decreases colonic production of ammonia, and is an alternative to neomycin for preventing the recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy.
- There is evidence that the drug could be effective against Helicobacter pylori, ulcerative colitis, diverticular disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD).
