Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Rifampin
INDICATIONS
FDA
FDA
- All forms of tuberculosis.
- Treatment of asymptomatic carriers of Neisseria meningitidis to eliminate meningococci from the nasopharynx.
- Rifampin is used to reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and other antibacterial drugs--used only to treat or prevent infections proven or strongly suggested to be caused by bacteria.
NON-FDA APPROVED USES
NON-FDA APPROVED USES
- Anthrax infections
- Bartonella infections
- Brucellosis
- H. influenzae disease, chemoprophylaxis after close contact with a patient with invasive disease
- Legionella infections
- Meningitis caused by penicillin and ceftriaxone-resistantS. pneumoniae
- N. meningitidis, chemoprophylaxis after close contact with a patient with invasive disease
- Non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections (e.g., leprosy, MAC)
- Prosthetic joint infections following debridement and retention of the prosthesis or 1-stage exchange.
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by staphylococci in combination with other agents (e.g., oxacillin/nafcillin, vancomycin) after blood cultures have cleared.
- Q-fever and rickettsial infections
- Used mainly in pregnant women
- NOTE: Rifampin is usually used in combination with other agents due to the quick emergence of resistance if used as monotherapy.
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Last updated: October 11, 2023
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G, and Edina Avdic. "Rifampin." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2023. Pediatrics Central, peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540483/all/Rifampin.
Auwaerter PG, Avdic E. Rifampin. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540483/all/Rifampin. Accessed April 19, 2025.
Auwaerter, P. G., & Avdic, E. (2023). Rifampin. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540483/all/Rifampin
Auwaerter PG, Avdic E. Rifampin [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. [cited 2025 April 19]. Available from: https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540483/all/Rifampin.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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T1 - Rifampin
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A1 - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
AU - Avdic,Edina,Pharm.D.
Y1 - 2023/10/11/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://peds.unboundmedicine.com/pedscentral/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540483/all/Rifampin
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Pediatrics Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
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