Rifampin Concentrations in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Tuberculous Meningitis

Rifampin was administered orally in one dose of 25 mg per kg of body weight to 6 patients with tuberculous meningitis who had received no previous antituberculous chemotherapy and to 7 control subjects. There was no significant difference in rifampin absorption at 3 hours between patients and control subjects; however, no rifampin could be detected in the 3-hour cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens taken from control subjects. Significant concentrations were reached in patients’ CSF within 3 hours and were maintained for 24 hours.