Rifabutin Is Active against Mycobacterium abscessus in Mice

There is no reliable cure for Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. Rifampin is not used clinically due to poor in vitro potency. In contrast, we have shown that rifabutin, another approved rifamycin used to treat tuberculosis, is potent in vitro against M. abscessus. Here, we report that rifabutin is as active as clarithromycin against M. abscessus K21 in NOD.CB17-Prkdc(scid)/NCrCrl mice. This suggests that rifabutin should be considered a repurposing candidate for patients with M. abscessus disease.