Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
12-20-2023
Journal
Clinical Microbiology Reviews
Abstract
Rifaximin-α is a gut-targeted antibiotic indicated for numerous gastrointestinal and liver diseases. Its multifaceted mechanism of action goes beyond direct antimicrobial effects, including alterations in bacterial virulence, cytoprotective effects on host epithelial cells, improvement of impaired intestinal permeability, and reduction of proinflammatory cytokine expression via activation of the pregnane X receptor. Rifaximin-α is virtually non-absorbed, with low systemic drug levels contributing to its excellent safety profile. While there are high concentrations of drug in the colon, low water solubility leads to low colonic drug bioavailability, protecting the gut microbiome. Rifaximin-α appears to be more active in the bile-rich small bowel. Its important biologic effects are largely at sub-inhibitory concentration. Although
Keywords
Humans, Rifaximin, Rifamycins, Diarrhea, Travel, Anti-Bacterial Agents
DOI
10.1128/cmr.00039-23
PMID
37971270
PMCID
PMC10732030
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
11-16-2023
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes