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New Drug Approved for the Treatment of Travelers’ Diarrhea
(Originally released July 15, 2004)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved rifaximin
(Xifaxan, Salix Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of travelers’ diarrhea
caused by noninvasive strains of Escherichia coli. The drug
is expected in U.S. pharmacies by August 2004 and is approved for persons
12 years of age and older.
This new agent represents a significant addition to the few oral drugs
currently available for the treatment of the most common cause of bacterial
travelers’ diarrhea. The other recommended drugs for the treatment
of travelers’ diarrhea are the quinolone antibiotics and azithromycin.
The combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole had been used
in the past, but is no longer recommended because of the high level
of resistance (see http://www.cdc.gov/travel/diarrhea.htm).
Rifaximin should not be used if dysentery is suspected (fever and
bloody stools) or if causes of diarrhea other than noninvasive strains
of E. coli are suspected or isolated. The drug label may be
viewed on the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov).
Travelers should always review with their health-care provider any
medications they may be taking during travel. Antibiotics should be
taken exactly as prescribed by the physician even if symptoms are no
longer present. This precaution is to ensure treatment is completed
and to prevent antibiotic resistance. CDC does not generally recommend
that travelers’ take any antibiotic, including rifaximin, to
prevent infections like travelers’ diarrhea. To limit the further
development and spread of antibiotic resistance, these medications
should be reserved for treatment only. To avoid illness, travelers
should be advised to select food with care. Data indicate that careful
attention to food and beverage consumption can decrease the likelihood
of developing travelers’ diarrhea
For more information about Travelers’ Diarrhea, see
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