rifamycin (rifamycin SV, Rifocin, Aemcolo)

Occurrence

• natural antibiotic of group of antibiotics produced by Streptpmyces mediterranei (Amycolatopsis mediterranei)

Indications

• treatment of autoimmune disorders
  • rheumatoid arthritis
• bacterial infections due to susceptible organisms
  • mycobacterial infections
    • tuberculosis
      • pulmonary tuberculosis
      • latent tuberculosis
      • tuberculous meningitis
    • leprosy
  • brucellosis
  • osteomyelitis
  • anthrax
    • cutaneous anthrax
    • inhalation anthrax
  • traveler's diarrhea (Aemcolo)
• hepatic encephalopathy

Monitor

• liver function tests & CBC monthly

Antimicrobial activity

• Gram-positive & Gram-negative bacteria
• used against Mycobacterium sp. (especially M. tuberculosis) in association with other agents to overcome resistance
• Staphylococcus
• Neisseria meningitidis
• Escherichia coli
• Brucella

Mechanism of action

• inhibits prokaryotic DNA-dependent RNA synthesis & protein synthesis
• blocks RNA-polymerase transcription initiation

Notes

• rifampin & rifabutin are related

More general terms

• anti-tuberculous agent
• heterocyclic compound, 3 rings

More specific terms

• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• rifampin; rifampicin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• rifapentine (Priftin)
• rifaximin (Xifaxan, Fatroximin, Normix)

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=6324616
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=23702994
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=24192136
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=24113328