Piperacillin/tazobactam: a new beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and adverse effect profile of piperacillin/tazobactam, a new beta-lactan/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination. DATA SOURCES: Literature was identified by MEDLINE search of the medical literature, review of selected references, and data provided by the manufacturer. STUDY SELECTION: In vitro susceptibility data were surveyed from studies following the methods of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Data evaluating clinical efficacy were selected from all published trials and abstracts. Additional information concerning safety, chemistry, and pharmacokinetics was reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: The antimicrobial activity of piperacillin is enhanced by addition of tazobactam against gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria. Tazobactam is active against a broad spectrum of plasmid and chromosomally mediated enzymes and has minimal ability to induce class I chromosomally mediated beta-lactamase enzymes. Piperacillin/tazobactam's expanded activity appears encouraging in the treatment of mixed aerobic and anaerobic infections. Direct comparisons of ticarcillin/clavulanate and piperacillin/tazobactam for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections showed piperacillin/tazobactam to be clinically superior, and in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections the 2 agents were comparable. For the treatment of intraabdominal infections, piperacillin/tazobactam was at least as effective as imipenem/cilastatin and clindamycin plus gentamicin. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of tazobactam with piperacillin results in an antimicrobial agent with enhanced activity against most beta-lactamase-producing organisms. Preliminary data indicate that piperacillin/tazobactam has proven clinical efficacy in the treatment of a variety of infections, especially polymicrobic infections.

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