Rifabutin is a rifamycin antimycobacterial agent related to rifampin with activity against tubercular as well as nontubercular mycobacteria including mycobacterium aviumintracellulare.

Rifabutin alone is used for prevention of mycobacterium aviumintracellulare in patients with HIV. It also can be used in combination with other drugs for treatment this infection as well as other mycobacterial infections.

The elimination half- life is 45 hours

Hypersensitivity to rifamycins

B

It is not known whether rifabutin is distributed into human milk.1 Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to rifabutin in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman

The most common adverse effects are rash, gastrointestinal intolerance, and neutropenia. Uveitis has also been reported.

Adults: 300 mg/day PO;
Children: 5 mg/kg/day PO