rifampin
noun
ri·fam·pin
rī-ˈfam-pən 
variants
or rifampicin
: a semisynthetic antibiotic C43H58N4O12 used especially in the treatment of tuberculosis and to treat asymptomatic carriers of meningococci
Examples of rifampin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Treatment of brain-eating amoebas When a patient has been diagnosed with a brain-eating amoeba, treatment usually includes a variety of antifungal medications, as well as antibiotics like rifampin and azithromycin, according to Lundstrom.
—
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Even those who have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis should still get antibiotic treatment, such as ciprofloxacin and rifampin.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2022
The only exception is rifampin, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2021
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of MDR-TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, in addition to fluoroquinolones and injectable second-line drugs.
—Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 6 June 2021
In the past decade, scientists have come up with two shorter courses: a drug called rifampin taken every day for four months; or a combination of isoniazid and rifapentine, taken once weekly for three months.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2019
Research has found that the antibiotic rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis, and griseofulvin, a drug used to treat fungal infections, may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 27 July 2017
Note:To be specific, XDR-TB is resistant to the two first-line drugs, isoniazid and rifampin, used to treat TB initially, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2013
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Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Even those who have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis should still get antibiotic treatment, such as ciprofloxacin and rifampin.
—Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 27 Jan. 2022
The only exception is rifampin, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis.
—Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2021
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of MDR-TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, in addition to fluoroquinolones and injectable second-line drugs.
—Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 6 June 2021
In the past decade, scientists have come up with two shorter courses: a drug called rifampin taken every day for four months; or a combination of isoniazid and rifapentine, taken once weekly for three months.
—Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 23 Sep. 2019
Research has found that the antibiotic rifampin, which is used to treat tuberculosis, and griseofulvin, a drug used to treat fungal infections, may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control pills.
—Korin Miller, SELF, 27 July 2017
Note:To be specific, XDR-TB is resistant to the two first-line drugs, isoniazid and rifampin, used to treat TB initially, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2013
Cite this Entry
“Rifampin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rifampin. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
rifampin
noun
ri·fam·pin
rī-ˈfam-pən
variants
or rifampicin
: a semisynthetic antibiotic C43H58N4O12 that is used especially in the treatment of tuberculosis and to treat asymptomatic carriers of meningococci
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