Rifampicin is one of the major antibiotics used in the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This organism causes tuberculosis. Other related nocardioform bacteria which include the Rhodococci are opportunistic pathogens in AIDS patients. These organisms cause tuberculosis-like disease and are currently treated with rifampicin and other drugs. The presence of a low level rifampicin resistance mechanism was identified in seven rhodococcal strains and five other related and unrelated bacteria. Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / GR2017