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Rifampin
About Rifampin
A key tuberculosis drug that kills both dividing and dormant TB bacteria. Rifampin is derived from Amycolatopsis rifamycinica bacteria. It works by inhibiting bacterial RNA polymerase. Rifampin turns body fluids including urine and tears orange red, which can alarm patients. It is a potent inducer of liver enzymes, causing many drug interactions. Rifampin is essential to modern TB treatment and is on the WHO essential medicines list.
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