Rifabutin
Encyclopedia
Rifabutin is a bactericidal antibiotic
drug primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis
. The drug is a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin
S. Its effect is based on blocking the DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of the bacteria. It is effective against Gram-positive
and some Gram-negative
bacteria, but also against the highly resistant Mycobacteria, e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
, M. leprae
and M. avium intracellulare.
Farmitalia Carlo Erba, a unit of the conglomerate Montedison. This company's Adria Laboratories subsidiary filed for Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approval of rifabutin under the brand name Mycobutin in the early 1990s and the drug gained FDA approval in December 1992.
Rifabutin (RFB) is primarily bactericidal antibiotic drug used to treat tuberculosis. Its effect on bacteria is based on DNA-dependent RNA polymerase blocking drug rifamycin S., a semi-synthetic derivative, efficient for example, in highly resistant mycobacteria, the Gram-positive and some are effective against Gram-negative bacteria, but also against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. and M. leprae avium intracellulare.
. Rifampicin
is more widely used because of its cheaper cost.
Rifabutin is used in the treatment of mycobacterium avium complex
disease, a bacterial infection most commonly encountered in late-stage AIDS
patients.
Rifabutin is well tolerated in patients with HIV-related tuberculosis (TB), but patients with low CD4 cell counts have a high risk of treatment failure or relapse due to acquired rifamycin resistance, a new study found.
Since patients co-infected with TB and HIV / AIDS are likely to get TB treated first, doctors and patients should be aware of a possible rifamycin resistance issue, if the CD4 is so suppressed at the time TB treatment is to begin.
Rifabutin is also used in trials for treating Crohn's Disease as part of the anti-MAP
therapy. In a Phase 3 study it could not prove a significant role of MAP in Crohn's disease.
Its main usefulness lies in the fact that it has lesser drug interactions than rifampicin therefore HIV infected patients on HAART are given rifabutin for treatment of TB
It has also found to be useful in the treatment of (Chlamydia) Chlamydophila pneumoniae
(Cpn) Infection. See external link.
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
drug primarily used in the treatment of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. The drug is a semi-synthetic derivative of rifamycin
Rifamycin
The rifamycins are a group of antibiotics that are synthesized either naturally by the bacterium Amycolatopsis mediterranei or artificially. They are a subclass of the larger family Ansamycin...
S. Its effect is based on blocking the DNA-dependent RNA-polymerase of the bacteria. It is effective against Gram-positive
Gram-positive
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. This is in contrast to Gram-negative bacteria, which cannot retain the crystal violet stain, instead taking up the counterstain and appearing red or pink...
and some Gram-negative
Gram-negative
Gram-negative bacteria are bacteria that do not retain crystal violet dye in the Gram staining protocol. In a Gram stain test, a counterstain is added after the crystal violet, coloring all Gram-negative bacteria with a red or pink color...
bacteria, but also against the highly resistant Mycobacteria, e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a pathogenic bacterial species in the genus Mycobacterium and the causative agent of most cases of tuberculosis . First discovered in 1882 by Robert Koch, M...
, M. leprae
Mycobacterium leprae
Mycobacterium leprae, also known as Hansen’s coccus spirilly, mostly found in warm tropical countries, is a bacterium that causes leprosy . It is an intracellular, pleomorphic, acid-fast bacterium. M. leprae is an aerobic bacillus surrounded by the characteristic waxy coating unique to mycobacteria...
and M. avium intracellulare.
History
Scientists at the Italian drug company Achifar discovered rifabutin in 1975. Eventually Archifar became part ofFarmitalia Carlo Erba, a unit of the conglomerate Montedison. This company's Adria Laboratories subsidiary filed for Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
(FDA) approval of rifabutin under the brand name Mycobutin in the early 1990s and the drug gained FDA approval in December 1992.
Rifabutin (RFB) is primarily bactericidal antibiotic drug used to treat tuberculosis. Its effect on bacteria is based on DNA-dependent RNA polymerase blocking drug rifamycin S., a semi-synthetic derivative, efficient for example, in highly resistant mycobacteria, the Gram-positive and some are effective against Gram-negative bacteria, but also against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. and M. leprae avium intracellulare.
Indications
Rifabutin is now recommended as first-line treatment for tuberculosisTuberculosis treatment
Tuberculosis treatment refers to the medical treatment of the infectious disease tuberculosis .The standard "short" course treatment for TB is isoniazid, rifampicin , pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for two months, then isoniazid and rifampicin alone for a further four months...
. Rifampicin
Rifampicin
Rifampicin or rifampin is a bactericidal antibiotic drug of the rifamycin group. It is a semisynthetic compound derived from Amycolatopsis rifamycinica ...
is more widely used because of its cheaper cost.
Rifabutin is used in the treatment of mycobacterium avium complex
Mycobacterium avium complex
Mycobacterium avium complex is a group of genetically related bacteria belonging to the genus Mycobacterium. It includes Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare....
disease, a bacterial infection most commonly encountered in late-stage AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
patients.
Rifabutin is well tolerated in patients with HIV-related tuberculosis (TB), but patients with low CD4 cell counts have a high risk of treatment failure or relapse due to acquired rifamycin resistance, a new study found.
Since patients co-infected with TB and HIV / AIDS are likely to get TB treated first, doctors and patients should be aware of a possible rifamycin resistance issue, if the CD4 is so suppressed at the time TB treatment is to begin.
Rifabutin is also used in trials for treating Crohn's Disease as part of the anti-MAP
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis
Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis is an obligate pathogenic bacterium in the genus Mycobacterium. It is often abbreviated M. paratuberculosis or M. avium ssp. paratuberculosis. It is the causative agent of Johne's disease, which affects ruminants such as cattle, and also perhaps...
therapy. In a Phase 3 study it could not prove a significant role of MAP in Crohn's disease.
Its main usefulness lies in the fact that it has lesser drug interactions than rifampicin therefore HIV infected patients on HAART are given rifabutin for treatment of TB
It has also found to be useful in the treatment of (Chlamydia) Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a species of Chlamydophila, an obligate intracellular bacteria that infects humans and is a major cause of pneumonia....
(Cpn) Infection. See external link.