Dificid (fidaxomicin) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 27, 2012

Dificid

Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis) »

What is Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)?

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that is related to the bacterium that cause tetanus and botulism. The C. difficile bacterium has two forms, an active, infectious form that cannot survive in the environment for prolonged periods, and a nonactive, "noninfectious" form, called a spore, that can survive in the environment for prolonged periods. Although spores cannot cause infection directly, when they are ingested they transform into the active, infectious form.

C. difficile spores are found frequently in:

hospitals,
nursing homes,
extended care facilities, and
nurseries for newborn infants.

They can be found on:

bedpans,
furniture,
toilet seats,
linens,
telephones,
stethoscopes,
fingernails,...

Read the Clostridium Difficile Colitis (Antibiotic-Associated Colitis, C. difficile colitis) article »

Dificid

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DIFICID
(fidaxomicin) Tablets, for Oral Use

DRUG DESCRIPTION

DIFICID (fidaxomicin) is a macrolide antibacterial drug for oral administration. Its CAS chemical name is Oxacyclooctadeca-3,5,9,13,15-pentaen-2-one, 3-[[[6-deoxy-4-O-(3,5- dichloro-2-ethyl-4,6-dihydroxybenzoyl)-2-O-methyl-β-D-mannopyranosyl]oxy]methyl]-12- [[6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-4-O-(2-methyl-1-oxopropyl)-β-D-lyxo-hexopyranosyl]oxy]-11-ethyl- 8-hydroxy-18-[(1R)-1-hydroxyethyl]-9,13,15-trimethyl-, (3E,5E,8S,9E,11S,12R,13E,15E,18S)-. The structural formula of fidaxomicin is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Structural Formula of Fidaxomicin

DIFICID (fidaxomicin) Structural Formula Illustration

DIFICID tablets (200 mg) are film-coated and contain the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, butylated hydroxytoluene, sodium starch glycolate, magnesium stearate, polyvinyl alcohol, titanium dioxide, talc, polyethylene glycol, and lecithin (soy).

Last reviewed on RxList: 6/21/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.