Clinical Research Directory

Bismuth Subsalicylate's Role in the Prevention of Travelers' Diarrhea

The purpose of this study is to determine if the use of prophylactic bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) has an effect on the acquisition of travelers' diarrhea (TD) or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in fecal samples among international travelers who departed from the United States to South East Asia, South Central Asia, or Africa. Our hypotheses will be tested using a double-blinded, placebo controlled randomized clinical trial with participants from a pre-travel health clinic in the United States.

Single Dose Antibiotic Treatment of Acute Watery Diarrhea, Rifaximin Versus Azithromycin, With Loperamide Adjunct

The purpose of this study is to compare a single dose of rifaximin with loperamide to the current standard approach of single dose azithromycin with loperamide for the treatment of acute watery traveler's diarrhea (TD). The study requires 1) taking a single dose antibiotic plus loperamide to treat TD, 2) providing blood and stool samples at different time points to evaluate infection and immune responses, 3) completing a daily symptom diary following treatment, 4) being seen by the study doctor to monitor illness and recovery, and 5) completing a brief electronic questionnaire at 3 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups. The two groups are 1) rifaximin 550 mg as a single dose with loperamide 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg after each unformed stool or 2) azithromycin 500 mg as a single dose with loperamide 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg after each unformed stool. Both groups will take the antibiotic dose and 4 mg of loperamide.