[Rifaximin--a non-resorbable antibiotic with many indications in gastroenterology].

Rifaximin, a non-resorbable broadband antibiotic, was approved in Germany 2 years ago for the treatment of traveller's diarrhoea caused by non-invasive enteropathogens. On account of the very good tolerance and the high efficacy against almost all enteropathogens this pharmaceutical, which has been available for 25 years, bears a high potential in many other indications which are currently under clinical investigations, including: symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis, small bowel intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome and hepathic encephalopathy. The present overview demonstrates potential indications in the field of gastroenterology and critically reviews the significance of rifiximin in the treatment of these diseases based on the latest clinica data.