The effects of rifampicin ... and phenobarbital ... on the metabolic fate of isoniazid ... and hydrazine ... were studied in rats. Male Wistar rats were fasted and injected with rifampicin at 30 mg/kg ip for 6 days, or with phenobarbital at 50 mg/kg for 3 days as pretreatment. After pretreatment, the rats were injected with isoniazid at 40 mg/kg ip. Twenty four hour urine samples were collected, and urinary concentrations of hydrazine and acetylhydrazine ... were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The rats were /sacrificed/, livers were immediately perfused in situ and homogenized, and hepatic distribution of metabolites was determined. Separately, blood was sampled and plasma hydrazine concn were determined at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr after a jugular injection of 5 mg/kg hydrazine. Within 1 hr after injection of isoniazid, hydrazine and acetylhydrazine were detected in the liver and plasma. The concn of hydrazine in rifampicin or phenobarbital pretreated groups were significantly lower than those in the control group; the concn of acetylhydrazine were not altered. Pretreatment with rifampicin or phenobarbital resulted in a marked incr in the urinary elimination of hydrazine. ...
In guinea pigs, rabbits and humans, major metabolite of rifampicin in urine and bile is 25-o-deacetyl rifampicin; in body fluids of dogs and rats an unidentified metabolite has been detected.
Several fast growing Mycobacterium strains were found to inactivate rifampin. Two inactivated compounds (RIP-Ma and RIP-Mb) produced by these organisms were different from previously reported derivatives, i.e., phosphorylated or glucosylated derivatives, of the antibiotic. The structures of RIP-Ma and RIP-Mb were determined to be those of 3-formyl-23-[O-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl)]rifamycin SV and 23-[O-(alpha-D-ribofuranosyl)]rifampin, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first known example of ribosylation as mechanism of antibiotic inactivation.
IDENTIFICATION: Rifampicin is an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis. Rifampicin is a semisynthetic derivative of rifamycin antibiotics which are produced by the fermentation of a strain of Streptomyces mediterranei. The fermentation produces rifamycin B. Rifamycin B is transformed by a series of synthesis reactions. Color: Red to orange odorless powder. It is very slightly soluble in water, acetone, carbon tetrachloride, alcohol and ether. It is freely soluble in chloroform, DMSO; soluble in ethyl acetate and methyl alcohol and tetrahydrofuran. Solubility in aqueous solutions is increased at acidic pH. Melting point 138 to 188 °C. Rifampicin has 2 pKa since it is a Zwitterion, pKa 1.7 related to 4-hydroxy and pKa 7.9 related to 3-piperazine nitrogen. A 1% suspension in water has pH 4.5 to 6.5. Indications: The primary indications for rifampicin are for treatment of tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary lesions) and for leprosy. It is also useful for elimination of Neisseria meningococci in carriers (but not recommended for active meningococcal infection) and for Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, viridans and pneumoniae) and gram negative bacteria (Hemophilus influenzae type B). It has some anti-chlamydial activity and in vitro activity against some viruses (poxvirus and adenovirus) at high doses. It has recently been used for brucellosis. HUMAN EXPOSURE: Main risks and target organs: The main target organs are the liver and the gastrointestinal system. Risks of concern are toxic hepatitis with elevation of bile and bilirubin concentrations, anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and bleeding. Summary of clinical effects: Some clinical manifestations of overdosage are extension of adverse effects. During therapy, rifampicin is usually well tolerated, however, adverse side-effects are common in intermittent rifampicin intake. These include febrile reaction, eosinophilia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, purpura, hemolysis and shock, hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Gastrointestinal adverse reactions may be severe leading to pseudomembranous colitis. Neurotoxic effects include confusion, ataxia, blurring of vision, dizziness and peripheral neuritis. A common toxic effect is red skin with orange discoloration of body fluids. Fatalities from adverse reactions have been reported. Rifampicin has shown no significant effects on the human fetus. It diffuses into milk and other body fluids. Contraindications: Rifampicin is contraindicated in known cases of hypersensitivity to the drug. It may be contraindicated in pregnancy (because of teratogenicity noted in animal studies and since the effects of drugs on fetus has not been established) except in the presence of a disease such as severe tuberculosis. It is contraindicated in alcoholics with severely impaired liver function and with jaundice. Routes of entry: Oral: This is the common route of entry. Eye: Use for ocular chlamydial infection treatment. Parenteral: Rifampicin may be given intravenously. Kinetics: Absorption by route of exposur
