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