[A member of the narrow-spectrum, 18-membered macrolide antibiotics (tiacumicins) isolated from cultures of Dactylosporangium aurantiacum subsp. hamdenensis and Actinoplanes deccanensis with potential antibacterial activity. Although the exact mechanism of action through which tiacumicin B exerts its effect has yet to be fully elucidated, this antibiotic may act by binding to and inhibiting bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, thereby inhibiting the initiation of bacterial RNA synthesis. After oral administration, tiacumicin B is not absorbed and exerts its effect locally in the intestines. In addition, this agent appears to be active against pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, such as clostridia, enterococci and staphylococci, but is not active against other intestinal bacteria, thereby allowing the normal gut flora to survive and exert its protective effect. ( NCI )]
UMLS (NCI) C0145907