Efficacy of Rifaximin Compared with Ciprofloxacin for the Treatment of Acute Infectious Diarrhea: A Randomized Controlled Multicenter Study.
- Author:
Kyoung Sup HONG
1
;
You Sun KIM
;
Dong Soo HAN
;
Chang Hwan CHOI
;
Byung Ik JANG
;
Young Sook PARK
;
Kang Moon LEE
;
Soo Teik LEE
;
Hyun Soo KIM
;
Joo Sung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jooskim@snu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Multicenter Study ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Original Article
- Keywords:
Acute infectious diarrhea;
Rifaximin;
Ciprofloxacin
- MeSH:
Ciprofloxacin;
Diarrhea;
Humans;
Korea;
Rifamycins;
Treatment Failure
- From:Gut and Liver
2010;4(3):357-362
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ciprofloxacin has been widely prescribed for acute infectious diarrhea. However, the resistance to this drug is increasing. Rifaximin is a novel but poorly absorbed rifamycin derivative. This study evaluated and compared the efficacies of rifaximin and ciprofloxacin for the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea. METHODS: We performed a randomized controlled multicenter study in Korea. Patients with acute diarrhea were enrolled and randomized to receive rifaximin or ciprofloxacin for 3 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was the time to last unformed stool (TLUS). Secondary endpoints were enteric wellness (reduction of at least 50% in the number of unformed stools during 24-hour postenrollment intervals), general wellness (subjective feeling of improvement), and proportion of patients with treatment failure. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analysis (n=143) showed no significant difference between the rifaximin and ciprofloxacin groups in the mean TLUS (36.1 hours vs 43.6 hours, p=0.163), enteric wellness (49% vs 57%, p=0.428), general wellness (67% vs 78%, p=0.189), or treatment failure rate (9% vs 12%, p=0.841). The adverse events did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rifaximin is as safe and effective as ciprofloxacin in the treatment of acute infectious diarrhea.
