Xifaxan, a drug approved to treat several gastrointestinal problems, seems to prevent the relapse of Clostridium difficile (C-diff) associated with diarrhea.

C-diff is on the rise in the hospital setting affecting individuals who are receiving antibiotics for various infections. The antibiotics in turn, eliminate many of the normal bacteria in the colon allowing C. difficile to colonize and spread.

Researchers found that Xifaxan (rifaxamin) protected hamsters against the recurrence of diarrhea better than vancomycin, which is the standard treatment for C-diff infection.

Three-quarters of the hamsters treated with vancomycin experienced recurrence within 21 days of initial treatment and died. None of the animals treated with Xifaxin died.

The body does not absorb rifaxamin, so the active ingredients remain in the small intestine, hopefully killing off the unwanted bacteria.

Researchers say these findings warrant more studies, and caution that Xifaxan is not indicated for treatment of C-diff relapses. They presented their discovery at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy reported here today.

The prevalence of C-diff has doubled in the last six years with about 500,000 cases of C-diff in the U.S. each year.

© 2006 mydna.com