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High dosage rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Author(s) -
SCARPELLINI E.,
GABRIELLI M.,
LAURITANO C. E.,
LUPASCU A.,
MERRA G.,
CAMMAROTA G.,
CAZZATO I. A.,
GASBARRINI G.,
GASBARRINI A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03259.x
Subject(s) - rifaximin , medicine , tolerability , gastroenterology , breath test , small intestinal bacterial overgrowth , antibiotics , incidence (geometry) , diarrhea , microbiological culture , side effect (computer science) , adverse effect , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , irritable bowel syndrome , physics , genetics , optics , biology , helicobacter pylori , programming language , computer science
Summary Background Rifaximin is a broad spectrum non‐absorbable antibiotic used for treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Doses of 1200 mg/day showed a decontamination rate of 60% with low side‐effects incidence. Aims To assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of rifaximin 1600 mg with respect to 1200 mg/day for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth treatment. Methods Eighty consecutive small intestinal bacterial overgrowth patients were enrolled. Diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth based the clinical history and positivity to H 2 /CH 4 glucose breath test. Patients were randomized in two 7‐day treatment groups: rifaximin 1600 mg (group 1); rifaximin 1200 mg (group 2). Glucose breath test was reassessed 1 month after. Compliance and side‐effect incidence were also evaluated. Results One drop‐out was observed in group 1 and two in group 2. Glucose breath test normalization rate was significantly higher in group 1 with respect to group 2 both in intention‐to‐treat (80% vs. 58%; P < 0.05) and per protocol analysis (82% vs. 61%; P < 0.05). No significant differences in patient compliance and incidence of side effects were found between groups. Conclusions Rifaximin 1600 mg/day showed a significantly higher efficacy for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth treatment with respect to 1200 mg with similar compliance and side‐effect profile.