Rifampicin (chemoprophylaxis in meningococcal disease)

Rifampicin is the most usually used drug for chemoprophylaxis. Typical dose:

• 600 mg every 12 hours for 2 days - adults and children over 12 years
• 10 mg/kg in children aged 1-12 years every 12 hours for 2 days
• 5 mg/kg in children below one year

Chemoprophylaxis is given to close contacts of the patient (household members, kissing contacts, and friends who have stayed in the patient's home for hours during the past week) to eradicate meningococci. In general, 15% of contacts carry meningococci. However only 3-4% of contacts carry the pathogenic strain (1).

Note that the respective summary of product characteristics must be consulted before prescribing any drug mentioned.

Reference:

• BMJ editorial (1996). Secondary prevention of meningococccal disease. BMJ, 312, 590-1.