Non-interventional study evaluating efficacy and tolerability of rifaximin for treatment of uncomplicated diverticular disease

Patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease represent a spectrum of patients who report recurrent abdominal symptoms, however are lacking substantial colonic inflammation in contrast to patients with acute diverticulitis. This non-interventional study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of rifaximin, a broad-spectrum poorly absorbable antibiotic, in cyclic treatment of these patients. Adult patients with uncomplicated diverticular disease in care of physicians in private practice intended to be treated with rifaximin were included. Patients with acute diverticulitis and symptoms suggestive of more severe intestinal inflammation were excluded. Data of 1,003 patients treated in cycles of 7–10 days per month over a period of 3 months were evaluated. In total, 75 % of patients had more than three episodes of symptoms in the last year before inclusion in the study. However, two-third of patients did not receive any treatment before. Over the 3-month treatment period with rifaximin, all assessed symptoms of diverticular disease, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea and flatulence, improved significantly. There was an overall good compliance to the scheme of cyclic drug administration of rifaximin. During the study, 24 adverse events in 20 patients were recorded, of which 6 adverse events showed a causal relationship to the use of rifaximin (0.6 %). We conclude that cyclic rifaximin shows good clinical efficacy and tolerability in patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease treated in a routine private practice outpatient setting.