Rifamycin

The rifamycins are a group of antibiotics which are synthesized either naturally by the bacterium Amycolatopsis mediterranei , or artificially. Rifamycins are particularly effective against mycobacteria, and are therefore used to treat tuberculosis, leprosy, and mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections.

The rifamycin group includes the following drugs:

• Rifamycin A, B, C, D, etc. (the "classic" rifamycin drug)
• Rifampicin
• Rifabutin
• Rifapentine