Rifampicin: Dosage And Instructions For Use
Rifampicin is an antibiotic that, as the name implies, represents a group of medicines that are part of rifampicin. It is a semi-synthetic compound used as a primary alternative in the treatment of tuberculosis.
However, despite its efficacy, rifampicin should not be used alone for the treatment of tuberculosis, as this in turn would promote the development of bacterial resistance. This is why it is always given in conjunction with other medications, which we will discuss more about later in this article.
In addition to the treatment of tuberculosis, rifampicin has many other uses, such as the treatment of patients who do not have symptoms of Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). In addition, rifampicin can be used, inter alia, for the prophylactic treatment of Haemophilus influenzae type b bacilli and leprosy.
Discovery and introduction of rifampicin
This antibiotic entered the market in the 1960s. First, a so-called metabolite of rifampin, called rifampin B, was prepared from the antibiotic. At the time, researchers were trying to make structural modifications to this molecule in an effort to increase the effectiveness of the antibiotic while reducing the rapid elimination of the drug through the bile. Finally, the researchers were able to synthesize rifampicin.
Since its launch, rifampicin has been considered the preferred treatment for tuberculosis. Gradually, however, studies began to show that the resistance of tuberculosis-causing bacteria to rifampicin began to increase. This finding forced doctors to administer it in combination with other drugs such as isonizide and etamutol.
However, despite the difficulties of the early stages, the discovery of rifampicin has undoubtedly been a real breakthrough in the medical field. You can find more information about this medicine below.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by an infectious bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis . In most cases, this microorganism affects the lungs. It spreads easily in the air, for example, when a person sneezes or coughs. This is a very contagious bacterium, because in order to become infected , it is enough for a healthy person to inhale airborne particles released by a person with tuberculosis when they sneeze, cough or cough.
However, it is a disease that can be prevented and fortunately there is also a cure today. For example, more than 49 million patients worldwide have been cured since 2000, thanks to the effectiveness of current diagnosis and treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that one in three people in the world carries a latent tuberculosis infection. This infection is often acquired as early as childhood. Although it is still a fairly common infectious disease in the world, affecting an estimated 10 million people each year, the incidence of tuberculosis in Finland is becoming rarer every year. Today, only about 200–300 new cases of tuberculosis are diagnosed in Finland each year, and many patients have a foreign background.
Elderly people, whose main childhood infection has become more active with age, become the main cause of tuberculosis among native Finns . In addition to age and childhood infection, diseases that destroy the immune system, such as HIV infection, increase the risk of developing tuberculosis.
As for the signs and symptoms of this disease, they depend entirely on the area where the bacteria multiply. Normally, as we have mentioned before, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis usually affect the lungs, in most cases the patient has the following symptoms:
- Strong and long-lasting cough
- Chest pain
- Cough with blood or thick mucus
- Fever and chills
- Weight loss
- Decreased feeling of hunger
How does rifampicin work in the body?
The antibiotic effect of rifampicin is related to the ability of the active substance to inhibit the synthesis of ribonucleic acid, or RNA, bacterial cells. To this end, rifampicin blocks the action of RNA polymerase, a DNA-dependent enzyme. However, in humans, rifampicin does not bind to eukaryotic cell polymerases, so the synthesis of human RNA is not altered by the drug.
On the other hand, rifampicin is either a bacteriostatic or a bactericidal drug depending on the dose at which it is administered. At lower doses, the effect of rimfampicin is bacteriostatic, that is, it inhibits the development of bacterial cells. At higher doses, on the other hand, it has a bactericidal effect, and as the name suggests, its effect on the body leads to the death of bacteria.
How should rifampicin be administered?
The dose of rifampicin varies completely depending on the condition of the patient being treated. Regarding the recommended doses in adult patients without HIV infection, the drug can be administered both orally and intravenously. The maximum allowable dose of rifampicin is 600 milligrams per day. If a patient is diagnosed with HIV, the drug can be administered up to a maximum of 10 milligrams per kilogram body weight, both orally and intravenously.
In children who have not been diagnosed with HIV, the dose is reduced to 10 to 20 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day. However, as in adults, the maximum dose of rifampicin is 600 mg. It should always be given in combination with another anti-tuberculosis medicine. The dose is also the same in children who have been diagnosed with HIV infection.
To prevent the development of resistance in the bacteria that cause the infection, the medicine is given once a day for two months in combination with another anti-tuberculosis medicine. Rifampicin is then co-administered with isoniazid at the same dose either once daily or 2-3 times per week for the next four months.
Finally
In summary, rifampicin is an antibiotic that is targeted as the primary drug for the treatment of tuberculosis in combination with other drugs. By combining this drug with other antibiotics that have the same effect, an increase in the resistance of infectious bacteria can be prevented.
If you have any further questions on the use or administration of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. In addition, be sure to follow the instructions given by the professionals carefully and never exceed the daily dose or dosing period prescribed by your doctor, as the misuse of medicines can lead to serious health problems.
