Rifampicin in the treatment of osteoarticular infections due to staphylococci.

Rifampicin is a suitable drug for treating staphylococcal bone and articular infections, because high levels are obtained in the human tissues. The best oral dose is 600 mg 12 hourly. The serum levels range from 10 to 15 mg/l at the peak concentration and from 0.2 to 0.6 mg/l 8 h after oral administration of 600 mg. The ratio for cancellous bone/serum is 0.41 at 3 h and 0.39 at 12 h, and for cortical bone/serum is 0.20 at 3 h after a dose of 600 mg. In every case, tissue levels paralleled serum levels; cancellous bone levels are greater than the MIC of Staphylococcus aureus strains until 12 h after a dose of 600 mg. Rifampicin is always used in combination with another antibacterial substance. Results are excellent in most cases. The average duration of antibiotic treatment is 3 months for osteo-arthritis, 6 months for spondylitis and osteitis.