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Comparison of two non-absorbable antibiotics for treatment of bacterial enteritis in children

U Beseghi1, G L De'Angelis

  • 1Dept. of Paediatric Surgery, Regional Hospital, Parma, Italy.

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
|November 5, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Rifaximin and neomycin + bacitracin effectively treated bacterial diarrhea in children. Both antibiotics rapidly improved stool consistency and eliminated symptoms with excellent tolerability, with rifaximin showing superior local tolerance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Gastroenterology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Bacterial diarrhea is a common pediatric illness requiring effective antimicrobial therapy.
  • Established treatments like neomycin + bacitracin have known efficacy but potential side effects.
  • Rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, presents an alternative option for treating bacterial gastroenteritis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy and tolerability of oral rifaximin versus neomycin + bacitracin in children with bacterial diarrhea.
  • To evaluate the impact of these antibiotics on clinical symptoms and bacteriological outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized trial involving 31 children diagnosed with bacterial diarrhea.
  • Participants received either oral rifaximin or neomycin + bacitracin for a short duration.
  • Etiologic agents included Salmonella spp. and enteropathogenic E. coli; outcomes assessed included bacteriological cure and symptom resolution.

Main Results:

  • Both rifaximin (12/14) and neomycin + bacitracin (13/17) achieved high rates of bacteriological cure.
  • Significant improvements in stool frequency, consistency, and symptom resolution were observed within 1-2 days for both treatment groups.
  • Both regimens demonstrated excellent systemic tolerability; rifaximin showed superior local tolerance with fewer reported stomach aches.

Conclusions:

  • Oral rifaximin is an effective and well-tolerated alternative for treating bacterial diarrhea in children.
  • Rifaximin offers comparable efficacy to neomycin + bacitracin with improved local tolerability.
  • Rapid symptom improvement and bacteriological eradication underscore the utility of both antibiotic regimens.

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