Antibiofilm and intraosteoblastic activities of rifamycins against Staphylococcus aureus: promising in vitro profile of rifabutin

Abstract

All rifamycins are efficient in reducing the S. aureus intraosteoblastic reservoir while limiting infection-induced cytotoxicity, with a higher activity of rifabutin at low concentrations. All molecules prevent biofilm formation, but only rifapentine and rifabutin consistently reduce formed biofilm-embedded bacteria for all isolates. The activity of rifabutin at lower doses highlights its therapeutic potential.