In vitro activity of rifabutin and rifampin against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Taiwan

Hsiu Ping Chien, Ming Chih Yu, Tzong Fei Ong, Tao Ping Lin, Kwen Tay Luh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and purpose: To determine the in vitro activity of rifabutin against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and the cross-resistance rate between rifampin and rifabutin. Methods:A total of 56 clinical isolates of MTB, including 23 multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates and 33 susceptible isolates, were tested for susceptibility to rifampin and rifabutin using the absolute concentration method. The concentrations of drugs tested were 2.5 and 5 mg/mL for rifampin and 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2,5, 5, and 10 mg/mL for rifabutin. Results: All 33 MTB isolates that were susceptible to rifampin were also susceptible to rifabutin. None of the 23 MDR-MTB isolates were inhibited by rifabutin at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. Among these 23 MDR isolates, three were susceptible to rifabutin at concentrations ≥ 0.5 mg/mL, six were susceptible to rifabutin at concentrations ≥ 5 mg/mL, 18 were susceptible to rifabutin at concentrations ≥ 10 mg/mL and five were not inhibited at any of the concentrations tested. The cross-resistance rate between rifampin and rifabutin was 87%. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the in vitro activity of rifabutin against drug- susceptible MTB isolates is greater than that of rifampin. For MDR-MTB isolates, the cross-resistance is high between rifampin and rifabutin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)408-411
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume99
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - May 2000
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Multidrug resistance
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Rifabutin
  • Rifampin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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