rifampin

[ ri-fam-pin ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic, C 4 3 H 5 8 N 4 O 1 2 , used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, asymptomatic carriers of meningococcal disease, and leprosy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifampin¹

1965–70; probably rifam ( yci ) n (originally, rifomycin, equivalent to rifo- (perhaps < Italian rifo ( rmare ) to reform ) + -mycin ) + pi(perazine)

Example Sentences

He recommended that she take two antibiotics — doxycycline and rifampin — for a total of six weeks to treat the infection.

From New York Times

In the past decade, scientists have come up with two shorter courses: a drug called rifampin taken every day for four months; or a combination of isoniazid and rifapentine, taken once weekly for three months.

From New York Times

The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that four months of rifampin were as good as nine months of isoniazid.

From The Guardian

A randomized, controlled trial of doxycycline and rifampin for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

From Nature

At pharmacies in 17 countries, the authors bought 713 samples of two TB drugs, the antibiotics rifampin and isoniazid.

From New York Times