The effects of rifaxminin on bacterial translacation in thioacetamide-induced fulminan hepatic failure in rats

AbstractBackground and study aims: Intestinal bacterial overgrowth (İBO) and increased mucosal permeability are mechanisms suggested to increase bacterial translocation (BT) in liver failure. Rifaximin (RIF) is a minimally absorbed oral antimicrobial agent which restores gut microflora imbalance in gastrointestinal diseases such as hepatic encephalopathy and small intestine bacterial overgrowth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of rifaximin on BT frequency in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in rats. Methods: Group 1 (n = 7) was the control group. In group 2 (n = 7), TAA group, rats received 350 mg/kg intraperitoneal TAA daily for three days. In group 3 (n = 7), the TAA + RIF group, rifaximin was began orally at 50 mg/kg daily same day with the first dose of TAA and was maintained for 3 consecutive days. Group 4 (n = 7) was the RIF group, rats received only rifaximin for 3 days (50 mg/kg orally). Results: When compared with the control group, serious hepatic damage, increased Escherichia coli counts in ileal aspirates and high BT frequencies were observed in the TAA group. Counts of E. coli grown in ileal aspirate were significantly lower in the TAA+RIF group than in TAA group (P = 0.009). There was no difference in BT frequency between the TAA and TAA+RIF groups. Conclusion: Our results suggest that main factors such as intestinal barrier dysfunction and impaired host immune shield apart from İBO plays an important role on BT in TAA-induced FHF model.