PTN Study Finds Dosage of Rifampin Safe for Infants

The Pediatric Trials Network (PTN) recently published research in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy that tested the safety of intravenous rifampin for both premature and term infants. Rifampin is used to treat many different infections, including those caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococcus bacteria and tuberculosis. The newly published study shares findings from a study led by PTN investigator Dr. P. Brian Smith of the Duke Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. P. Brian Smith

The study, which enrolled 27 infants total, analyzed plasma pharmacokinetic samples and safety data to determine the appropriate dosing of rifampin for infants. No adverse effects related to rifampin were seen, and drug clearance increased as weight and maturation increased.

Results showed that, for infants less than 14 days old, 8 milligrams of rifampin per kilogram of weight resulted in comparable exposure to adults receiving rifampin as a therapy against staphylococci infections and tuberculosis. In infants 14 days old or older, 15 milligrams per kilogram of weight showed similar results.