Efficacy of Rifampin in Eliminating Pharyngeal Carriage of Haemophilus influenzae Type b

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Abstract
Household contacts less than 6 yr of age of children with H. influenzae type b meningitis are at increased risk of developing systemic H. influenzae type b disease. Positive oropharyngeal cultures for H. influenzae type b were found in 17/97 patients (18%) and 7/62 staff members (11%) at a chronic care facility at which 2 patients developed ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae type b meningitis. H. influenzae type b colonization was eliminated in 8/9 carriers treated with a single daily oral dose of rifampin, 20 mg/kg/day (maximum 600 mg) for 4 days; colonization persisted in 9/10 control subjects (Fisher''s exact test P < 0.001; corrected .chi.2 P < 0.005). After treatment of additional H. influenzae type b-positive individuals and the remaining control subjects, rifampin eradicated H. influenzae type b in a total of 24/25 carriers (96%). All isolates of H. influenzae type b were sensitive to rifampin at 0.5 or 1.0 .mu.g/ml. Rifampin is effective in eliminating the H. influenzae type b carrier state and may be useful in preventing associated H. influenzae b disease in close contacts of children with H. influenzae type b meningitis.

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