Tests of rifampin confirm efficacy against tuberculosis
The results of early clinical trials conducted in the United States suggest that rifampin is effective in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Studies reported at the American Thoracic Society meeting confirm European reports of the drug's effectiveness and indicate it should be used in combination with other antituberculosis drugs. Several groups of investigators reported their experience with rifampin at the society's annual meeting in Cleveland. Rifampin is a semisynthetic derivative of the antibiotic rifamycin.
A series of 30 patients with far advanced, drugresistant pulmonary tuberculosis was reported by investigators from Denver's National Jewish Hospital and Research Center. The co-authors are William Lester, MD, chief of chest medicine, A. VailSpinosa, MD, Thomas Moulding, MD, Paul T. Davidson, MD, and J. K. McClatchy, PhD.
All patients in the series had been resistant to previous treatment or had had relapses. Prior to treatment with rifampin, they
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