Rifampicin therapy in Escherichia coli gastroenteritis

Summary Eight infants aged 2-4 months suffering from gastroenteritis associated with enteropathic Escherichia coli were treated with rifampicin. Seven of them had serotype 0125: B15 and the eighth had serotype 0126: B16. One of them had septicaemia due to E. coli 0125: B15. Five cases were initially treated with antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents to which E. coli was shown to be sensitive but without results. Rifampicin was effective in curing gastrointestinal signs and eradicating the bacilli in seven of eight infants. The drug was given in a dose of 15-25 mg/kg/day divided into two equal parts, for 7 days in most of the cases. No untoward side effects were observed clinically in any of the cases. Our experience should encourage the use of this agent in controlling outbreaks of gastroenteritis caused by enteropathic E. coli.