Mr Arnaud Cannet, entomologist (University Hospital of Nice, France), Dr Véronique Blanc, biologist (Hospital of Antibes–Juan-les-Pins, France), Professor Pierre Marty (Laboratoire de Parasitologie–Mycologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, and Inserm U895/Université

de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France), Dr Cameron Webb (Department of Medical Entomology University of Sydney, Australia), and Janet Jacobson for editorial assistance. This research has been funded by the French Ministry of Health, Projet Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique 2009 (P. D., PHRC 2010 09-API-01). This review is part of a research program entitled “Cimex lectularius GSK1120212 mouse or Bedbugs: Vector of Infectious Agents and Pathogenic Role. The Infectiopole Sud Scientific Cooperation Foundation provided funds for the camera and microscope. The author states that he has no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Background. Rifaximin has been shown to be effective in treating and preventing travelers’ diarrhea (TD) during the summer season. Methods. The goal of this double-blinded multicenter trial was to assess the efficacy and safety of rifaximin 550 mg administered once daily for 14 days compared with placebo in the prevention of TD during the dry season in Mexico. Results. There were 101 participants randomized. Overall, 25 participants developed TD during the 3 weeks of the study: 22% from the

rifaximin group and 29% from the placebo group (p = 0.4). Mild diarrhea (defined as only one or two unformed stools during a 24-h period plus at least one abdominal MS-275 molecular weight symptoms) developed in only 3 (6%) participants taking rifaximin compared with 10 (21%) taking placebo during the first week of study (p = 0.03). No clinically significant or serious adverse events were reported. Conclusions. Antibiotic prophylaxis of TD in Mexico during the dry season needs to be further studied and its benefits weighed against the benefits of self-treatment. Travelers’ diarrhea (TD), which occurs in approximately 40% of international travelers visiting high-risk areas,1 is caused by bacteria in approximately 80% of cases.2 A variety of drugs with antimicrobial effects have been used in Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase the prevention of TD during periods

of risk of no greater than 2 weeks, including doxycycline,3 bismuth subsalicylate,4 trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,5 and fluoroquinolones.6 Prophylaxis with antibacterial drugs is not generally recommended because of adverse effects of systemically absorbed drugs and risk of antimicrobial resistance for drugs that have important uses outside the gut. Rifaximin is a nonsystemic, gut-selective antibiotic that has activity against enteric bacterial pathogens causing TD in multiple areas of the world,7 and has been shown to be effective in treating TD in studies carried out in Mexico.8 Previous clinical trials have been carried out during summer months in Mexico showing that a once daily dose of rifaximin (one, two, or three 200 mg tablets) was effective in preventing TD.