CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH RIFABUTIN IN THE TREATMENT OF MYCOBACTERIAL INFECTIONS

Effective new therapies are required to combat the increasing incidenc e of mycobacterial infections. Rifabutin has been investigated in stud ies conducted in various countries around the world, and in the treatm ent of tuberculosis rifabutin in combination regimen has been shown to be as effective as rifampicin. Rifabutin is active in approximately 3 0% of patients with tuberculosis resistant to standard therapies, incl uding rifampicin and/or isoniazid. Placebo-controlled studies of rifab utin in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (M AC) infection in AIDS patients have provided evidence for the inclusio n of rifabutin in multidrug regimens. Rifabutin as a single agent is t he only drug approved for the prophylaxis of MAC infection. Clinical e xperience indicates that rifabutin is well tolerated and that it does not reduce the tolerability of combination regimens.