Drugsa semisynthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic, C43H58N4O12, used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis, asymptomatic carriers of meningococcal disease, and leprosy.
Italian rifo(rmare) to reform) + -mycin) + pi(perazine)
probably rifam(yci)n (origin, originally, rifomycin, equivalent. to rifo- (perh. 1965–70